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Venerable  Antonio  Margil  dc  Jesus 

Copied  from  a  painting  in  the  Secrrtarlatc  of  the  City  of  Mexico 


"  Gather  Up  the  Fragments  that  Remain 
Lest  They  Be  Lost." 

—John  VI.  12. 


DIAMOND  JUBILEE 

1847  -- 1922 

OF 

THE  DIOCESE  OF  GALVESTON 

AND 

ST.  MARY'S  CATHEDRAL 


COMPILED  BY 
THE  PRIESTS  OF  THE  SEMINARY 


NIHIL  OBSTAT. 
M.  J.  Crowe, 

Censor  Deputatus. 


IMPRIMATUR 
*  Christopherus  Eduardus, 

Episcopus  Galvestonensis. 


PREFACE 

We  present  only  some  of  "the  fragments  that  remain"  of 
the  early  history  of  the  Diocese  of  Galveston.  To  compile  them 
was  a  labor  of  love.  The  reading  of  them  will  make  us  realize 
that  ''our  lines  are  cast  in  pleasant  places"  and  in  prayer  and 
praise  and  contrast  we  shall  "remember  the  days  of  old." 

We  are  indebted  to  Rev.  C.  L.  Souvay,  C.  M.,  D.  D.,  of 
Kenrick  Seminary,  Webster  Grove,  Mo.,  for  the  many  letters 
of  Bishops  Timon  and  Odin.  With  the  care  that  bespeaks  the 
scholar,  he  copied  them  from  scattered  archives,  and  the  imper- 
fections of  translation  we  assume  to  ourselves. 

We  owe  much  to  Monsignor  W.  W.  Hume,  D.  D.,  New 
Orleans,  whose  monograph  on  \^en.  Antonio  de  Margil  and  other 
contributions  lend  particular  interest.  To  the  Rt.  Rev.  C.  E. 
Byrne,  D.  D.,  to  Rev.  J.  A.  Rapp,  to  Mr.  James  Kirwin  Rey- 
baud,  who  typed  the,  at  times,  illegible  story,  and  to  all  others 
who  contributed  to  the  making,  we  tender  our  gratitude. 

We  had  hoped  to  present  a  real  history  of  the  Diocese  and 
we  now  have  at  hand — we  regret  the  late  arrival — in  the  separ- 
ate narratives  of  parishes,  nu'ssions,  convents,  hospitals  and 
schools,  material  from  whicb  the  sioiy  may  \n-  couiniled.  We 
appreciate  the  time  and  interest  given  l)y  the  clergy  and  Sisters 
to  their  task  and  assure  them  that  the  material  will  be  carefully 
guardcfl  until  such  time  as  leisure  and  inclination  may  put  it  into 
permanent  form. 

J.  M.  KIRWIN. 

Lal'orte. 

l-'east  of  St.  Thomas,  Aquinas,  1922. 


IDO.'^.i.'Jl 


BRIEF  OUTLINE  OF  GALVESTON  DIOCESE 

1840-1842 — The  Republic  of  Texas,  a  prefecture  apostolic,  with 
the  Very  Rev.  John  Timon,  C.  M.,  prefect  apostolic;  the 
Very  Rev.  John  Mary  Odin,  vice-prefect. 

1842-1847 — The  Republic  of  Texas  raised  from  a  prefecture 
apostolic  to  a  vicariate  apostolic,  with  the  Rt.  Rev.  J.  M. 
Odin,  D.  D.,  Bishop  of  Claudiopolis,  vicar  apostolic. 

1847 — Erection  of  the  Diocese  of  Galveston,  with  the  Rt.  Rev. 
J.  M.  Odin,  D.  D.,  its  first  bishop. 

1861— The  Rt.  Rev.  J.  M.  Odin.  D.  D.,  made  Archbishop  of 
New   Orleans. 

1862 — ^Consecration  of  the  Rt.  Rev.  C.  M.  Dubuis,  D.  D.,  as 
Bishop  of  Galveston. 

1874 — First  division  of  the  Diocese  of  Galveston.  Up  to  Sept. 
3,  1874,  the  Diocese  of  Galveston  comprised  the  entire 
State  of  Texas.  In  the  division  the  Diocese  of  Galveston 
retained  the  portion  of  the  State  lying  east  of  the  Colorado 
River ;  while  the  Diocese  of  San  Antonio  was  created  out 
of  the  territory  lyino^  between  the  Colorado  and  Nueces 
rivers,  and  the  vicariate  apostolic  of  Brownsville  out  of 
the  territory  lying  between  the  Nueces  and  the  Rio 
Grande. 

1878— The  Rt.  Rev.  P.  Dufal,  D.  D.,  Bishop  of  Delcon  and  Vicar- 
Apostolic  of  Eastern  Bengal,  transferred  to  Galveston  as 
coadjutor  of  the  Rt.  Rev.  C.  M.  Dubuis,  cum  jure  suc- 
cessionis ;  resigned,  1880. 

1882 — April  30,  Consecration  of  the  Rt.  Rev.  Nicholas  Aloysius 
Gallagher,  D.  D.,  as  Titular  Bishop  of  Canopus  and  Bis- 
hop Administrator  of  the  Diocese  of  Galveston. 

1890 — Second  division  of  the  Diocese  of  Galveston.  At  the  re- 
quest of  Bishop  Gallagher,  the  Diocese  of  Dallas  was,  in 
1890,  created  out  of  the  northern  and  northwestern  por- 
tion of  Galveston  Diocese ;  the  counties  of  Lampasas,  Cor- 
yell, McLennan,  Limestone,  Freestone,  Anderson,  Chero- 
kee, Nacogdoches,  and  Shelby,  now  forming  the  northern 
boundary  of  the  Diocese  of  Galveston. 

1892 — The  Rt.  Rev.  N.  A.  Gallagher,  D.  D.,  succeeded  to  the 
title  of  Bishop  of  Galveston ;  the  titular  'bishop,  the  Rt. 
Rev.  C.  M.  Dubuis,  being  promoted  to  an  archbishopric 
in  partibus  infidelium. 

1907 — April  30,  Twenty-fifth  Anniversary  of  the  Consecration 
of  the  Rt.  Rev.  N.  A.  Gallagher,  Bishop  of  Galveston. 

1918— Jan.  21.     Death  of  Bishop  N.  A.  Gallagher,  D.  D. 

1918 — Nov.  10.  Consecration  of  Rt.  Rev.  Christopher  Edward 
Byrne,  D.  D.,  fourth  Bishop  of  Galveston. 

1922 — March  14.  Solemn  celebration  of  the  Diamond  Jubilee 
of  the  Diocese  and  Cathedral. 


INDEX 

PAGE 

I.     The  Dawn  1-6 

II.     Texas  in  the  Eighteenth  Century. 

The  Missions  Suppressed 7-15 

III.  The  Venerable  Antonio  Margil  de  Jesus 16-23 

IV.  San  Jacinto's  Glorious  Field 23-32 

V.  The  Awakening  by  the  Lazarists  33-42 

VI.  Bishop  Odin's  Diary  43-52 

VII.     Bishop  Odin  Comes  53-85 

Vm.     Early  Pioneers  and  Yellow  Fever  Priests 86-89 

IX.     Early  Cathedral  Records  'JO-IUO 

X.  The  Diocese  of  Galveston  101-105 

XI.  F.ishoi)  John  'iinion  10(i-lor 

XII.      I'.isho])  Claude   Marie   Dubuis  1 08-111 

XIII.      P.ishop  Nicholas  Aioysius  Gallagher 112-118 

XIV.  Bishoj)  Christoi)lur  Edward  P.yrne IUI-121 

XV.  Ilistorical   'I'ablcan.x   presented  (hiring 

Dianx.nrl    |ubik-e  122-130 


CHAPTER  I. 


THE   DAWN. 

The  diocese  of  Galveston  when  established  embraced  the  whole 
State  of  Texas,  and  the  rule  of  Bishop  Odin,  as  Vicar-Apostolic 
and  Bishop  of  Claudiopolis,  covered  the  Republic  of  Texas. 

There  is  no  portion  of  American  history  of  more  vital  inter- 
est, more  filled  with  tales  of  discovery  and  romance,  more  replete 
with  heroic  sacrifice  of  priest  and  soldier.  The  flags  of  Spain, 
France,  Mexico,  the  Republic  of  Texas,  the  Star-Spangled  Ban- 
ner and  the  Stars  and  Bars  have  been  saluted  at  retreat  as  the 
Hag  to  which  Texas  gave  allegiance.  It  was  the  seat  of  more 
communistic  and  Utopian  experiments,  which  have  been  the  de- 
light of  the  visionary  in  every  age  of  the  world's  progress,  than 
all  the  other  states  of  the  union  combined.  This  brochure  can 
but  indicate  the  sources  that  "the  fragments  may  not  be  lost'' 
and  here  and  there  give  a  flash  of  the  extraordinary  incidents 
in  the  march  of  the  cowl  and  the  carbine  along  the  ways  of 
colonization  and  civilization  in  Texas. 

Indirectly  Spain  began  to  accumulate  information  con- 
cerning Texas  in  15 19,  when  Alvarez  de  Pineda  sailed  the 
Chilf  from  IHorida  to  Tampico.  Ten  years  later.  1528.  sev- 
eral survivors  of  the  Xarvaez  Expedition  were  cast  on  the 
shore  of  Texas,  and  after  six  years  of  wandering  along  the 
coast  from  Galveston  to  Corpus  Christi,  Cabeza  de  \'aca  and 
four  others  escaped  from  the  Indians  who  had  enslaved  them  and 
made  their  way  to  Mexico.  De  \'aca  wrote  an  account  of  their 
experiences,  which  gives  us  our  earliest  sources  for  conditions 
of  the  Texas  interior.  (Espejo  in  "Si)anisli  Exploration  in  the 
Southwest,"  1542-1706).  "They  told  us  and  gave  us  to  under- 
.stand  through  interpreters  that  three  Christians  and  a  negro  had 
passed  through  there  and  hy  the  indications  they  gave  they  appear 
to  have  been  Alonso  Nunez.  Cabeza  de  Vaca,  Dorantes  Castillo 
Maldonado  and  a  negro,  who  had  all  escaped  from  the  fleet 
with  which  Panfilo  Xarvaez  entered  I-lorida."     (Page  173.) 

In  1 541.  onlv  fortv-ninc  years  after  Columbus  discovered 
America!  members  of  the  DeSoto  Expedition,  after  the  death  of 
their  leader,  passed  through  East  Texas  on  their  way  to  Mexico, 
and  the  same  year  Coronado's  Expedition,  with  which  were  the 
Franci.scan  Padre  luan  de  Padilla.  proto-martyr  of  the  United 
States,  and  Padre   Tuan  de  la  Cruz,  searching  for  Quivira,  tra- 


2  HISTORY  OF  Till-: 

versed  a  considerable  portion  of  West  Texas.  The  interior  of 
Texas  continued  to  be  penetrated  l)y  occasional  parties  of  Spanish 
explorers  for  the  next  one  hundred  and  fifty  years.  The  record 
of  the  first  travel  into  Texas  toward  the  East  was  made  about 
1629  by  Father  Salas,  a  Franciscan.  And  later,  in  1650,  an 
expedition  led  by  Captain  Hernando  Martin  entered  Texas  from 
New  Mexico  and  went  as  far  as  the  Nueces  River,  probably  in 
Uvalde  County.  Coronado  and  Anate  in  their  journeys,  which 
led  up  as  high  as  Kansas,  had  previously  passed  through  portions 
of  north-west  Texas.  We  know  for  certain  that  in  1675  Fernando 
del  Bosque,  accompanied  by  Father  Lanos,  a  Franciscan,  and  a 
company  of  soldiers,  crossed  the  Rio  Grande  somewhere  west  of 
the  Pecos  River,  and  made  their  way  over  as  far  as  the  neighbor- 
hood of  the  present  site  of  Eagle  Pass.  Holy  Mass  was  said  in 
several  places  and  a  few  Indians  were  baptized.  Many  large 
crosses  were  erected  to  mark  the  places  passed,  but  nothing  like 
permanent  foundations,  or  permanent  settlements  were  attempted. 
Missionaries  were  constantly  urging  the  occupation  of  the  Tejas 
country  in  vain,,  and  then  news  reached  the  government  that  a 
French  expedition  was  headed  for  the  southwest  country.  In  1673 
Louis  Joliet  and  Father  Tvlarquette  explored  the  Mississippi  from 
Wisconsin  to  Arkansas.  Ten  years  later  LaSalle  followed  the 
Mississippi  to  its  mouth  and  returned  to  France  to  beg  permission 
from  Louis  XIV  to  settle  a  colony  there.  The  king  approved  and 
LaSalle  was  generously  fitted  out  with  colonists  and  supplies. 
In  the  West  Indies  one  small  vessel  was  captured  by  Spaniards. 
The  remainder  of  the  little  fleet  lost  its  bearings  and  on  February 
20th,  1685,  entered  Matagorda  Piay  and  made  a  landing.  A  fort 
was  built  some  miles  inland  on  the  Lavaca  River  and  a  search  for 
the  Mississippi  begun.  The  Indians,  malaria  and  their  own  ex- 
cesses soon  brought  the  party  to  a  desperate  state.  Joutel's  Jour- 
nal tells  the  story  of  life  at  old  Fort  St.  Louis,  and  also  of  the 
murder  of  LaSalle  near  the  present  site  of  Navasota,  as  it  was 
told  to  him  by  Father  Anastasius  soon  afterwards. 

Father  Lopez,  with  Captain  Mendoza  and  party,  in  1684 
crossed  the  Rio  Grande  at  or  near  El  Paso  and  went  northeast  to 
the  Pecos  River  and  then  east  to  where  the  Concho  enters  the 
Colorado  south  of  Ballinger.  On  this  trip  mass  was  very  frequently 
said,  in  fact  the  "Chronicles"  in  one  place  tell  us,  "Mass  has  been 
celebrated  every  day,  and  twice  on  holidays."  The  present  San 
Angelo  was  one  of  the  places  hallowed  on  that  expedition  by  the 
celebration  of  the  Holy  Sacrifice.  From  the  T6th  of  March  to  the 
1st  of  May,  1684,  the  members  of  this  expedition  rested  near  the 
banks  of  the  Colorado,  Runnels  County.  There,  perhaps  near 
Ballinger,  the  Holy  Mass  was  celebrated  every  day,  and  the  entire 
services  of  Holy  Week  were  carried  out  in  a  temporary  chapel 
erected  there.     No  settlement  was  left  in  the  place.     Before  the 


DIOCESE  OF  GALVESTON  3 

time  of  the  Father  Lopez-IMendoza  trip,  the  king  of  Spain  had 
been  contemplating  a  colony  near  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi 
River.     This  project  was  hastened  by  the  news  that  LaSalle  had 
landed  with  a  company  of  his  French  countrymen,  and  intended 
to  colonize  the  lower  Mississippi  and  what  was  called  the  shores 
of  the  Espiritu  Santo  Bay,  in  the  name  of  France.  Father  Massa- 
net  and  Captain  DeLeon,  with  a  goodly  company  of  soldiers,  were 
sent  out  to  thwart  the  plan  of  LaSalle,  who  had  missed  the  mouth 
of  the  Mississippi  and  landed  somewhere  in  the  Alatagorda  Bay, 
west  of  the  Colorado  River.     Somewhere  between  Victoria  and 
Edna  he  made  a  temporary  camp,  but  trouble  with  the  Indians 
made  him  move  on,  and  he  set  out  northeast,  looking  perhaps  for 
the  Mississippi  River,  w-hich  he  knew-  and  had  traversed.    Captain 
Alonso  de  Leon  and  Father  Damian  Alassanet,  in  their  northwest 
journey  in  1689,  crossed  the  Rio  Grande,  and  following  the  Gulf 
Coast  discovered  the  wrecks  of  LaSalle's  ships  in  the  Matagorda 
Bay  and  his  abandoned  camp  near  Victoria.     Before  returning, 
they  met  a  chief  of  the  Tejas  Indians  near  the  Guadalupe  River, 
and  from  hirn  learned  the  direction  taken  by  LaSalle,  and  from 
the  chief  they  also  received  an  invitation  to  come  and  Chris- 
tianize the  people  of  his  tribe.     Father  Massanet  and  De  Leon 
returned  to  Mexico  and  made  a  report  of  their  journey,  and  in 
the  following  year,  1690,  they  returned  with  a  larger  company  of 
men.  and  a  more  complete  outfit,  to  follow  in  the  footsteps  of 
LaSalle,  and  to  grant  the  request  of  the  Tejas  chief.     With  this 
expedition  there  went  four  other  Franciscan  priests  besides  l-'ather 
Massanet.     They  made  their  way  back  to  the  neighborhood  of 
Victoria,  destroyed  the  remains  of  LaSalle's  camp,  proceeded  up 
the  valley  of  the  Guadalupe  River  and  crossed  the  Colorado  some- 
where  between    LaGrangc   and    I'astrop.      From   there,   led   and 
directed  by  friendly  Indians,  they  pushed  on  at  easy  stages  to  the 
villages  of  the  Teias.    Mass  was  celebrated  al  what  is  now  Crock- 
ett, and  the  following  day  brought  them   in  sight  of  the  Tejas 
settlement  near  where  the  San  Pedro  Creek  enters  the  Ncchcs 
in  Houston  County.     On  Monday.  May  22,  1690,  they  entered 
the  Indian  village,  bearing  before  them  a  banner  of  the  Blessed 
Mother,  the  whole  company  the  while  singing  the  Litany  of  the 
P.lcsscd  \'irgin.     They  were  received  with  great  reverence  and 
gladness,  and  invited  to  the  house  of  the  chief.     Tlic  following 
day  the  erection  of  a  home   for  the  priests,  and   a  chapel,   was 
begun.    On  the  feast  of  Corpus  Christi  this  chapel  was  dedicated. 
A  Mass  was  sung,  and  the  first  procession  of  the  Most  Blessed 
Sacrament  was  held  within  the  present  borders  of  Texas.     After 
the  procession  the  standard  of  Sjiain,  bearing  on  one  side  the 
picture  of  the  Crucified  Christ  and  on  the  other  that  of  the  Virgin 
of  Guadalupe  was  raised,  a  royal   salute   was  fired  and  the  Te 
Deum  was  sung.    The  notes  of  the  great  hymn  of  St.  Ambrose 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


rang  through  the  tall  pines  of  the  Neches  woods  and  proclaimed 
the  establishment  in  the  Church  of  St.  Francis  on  the  Neches  of 
the  same  faith  of  St.  Peter's  on  the  Tiber.  Father  Massanet's 
four  companion  priests  with  three  soldiers  were  put  in  charge  of 
Texas's  first  interior  settlement,  and  five  days  later  Father  Massa- 
net  and  his  companions  began  their  return  journey  to  Mexico. 

The  history  of  San  Francisco  de  los  Tejas,  which  De  Leon 
and  Massanet  left  in  charge  of  four  padres  and  three  soldiers,  is 
shorter  in  time  but  hardly  less  abundant  in  misfortune  than  that 
of  Fort  St.  Louis.  The  "padres  founded  another  small  establish- 
ment nearby  and  worked  zealously,  hut  their  experiences  included 
drought  and  overflow,  ruining  the  harvests,  and  was  followed  by 
famine  and  pestilence.  The  Indians  refused  to  live  in  communities 
and  the  soldiers  became  unmanageable  and  outrageous  in  their 
conduct.  Finally  the  viceroy  ofj^ered  the  abandonment  of  the 
Mission  and  in  October,  1693,  the  padres  and  soldiers  buried  what- 
ever property  they  could  not  carry  away  with  them  and  departed. 
Only  one  Spaniard  had  died  there,  but  they  had  little  more  real 
success  than  the  French  at  Fort  St.  Louis. 

In  1 69 1  Father  Massanet  had  returned  with  Captain  Domingo 
Teran.  The  expedition  was  organized  into  divisions,  one  going  by 
land  and  the  other  by  sea.  The  first  division  consisted  of  fifty 
soldiers,  nine  priests  and  a  number  of  attendants ;  the  second  was 
made  up  of  forty  seamen.  The  purpose  of  this  cntrada  was  to 
strengthen  the  Mission  of  San  Francisco  de  los  Tejas  and  establish 
others.  Teran  accompanied  the  division  that  went  by  land,  as 
did  Padre  Massanet.  The  junction  of  the  land  and  sea  forces  did 
not  take  place  until  late  in  the  summer,  and  the  whole  force  did 
not  start  from  Mission  San  Francisco  de  los  Tejas  until  near  the 
opening  of  winter.  The  expedition  penetrated  apparently  to  the 
Red  River,  but  mischievous  discussions,  great  suffering  from  cold 
and  hunger  followed,  and  they  were  fortunate  to  get  back  to 
Espiritu  Santo  and  the  Gulf  and  home  to  Mexico  by  sea  rather 
than  overland.  After  these  expeditions,  there  was  but  one  people 
in  the  country  they  penetrated,  of  whom  the  Spanish  in  Mexico 
thought  seriously  and  that  was  the  Tejas  Indians. 

Tejas  was  the  name  not  of  a  single  tribe,  but  a  confederacy 
of  nearly  thirty,  including  nine  tribes  of  the  Asenais  or  Cenis. 
It  is  but  natural  that  the  name  of  Tejas  or  Texas  should  be  ex- 
tended to  the  whole  region.  Nuevas  Filipinas,  which  was  for 
some  time  the  official  designation,  was  not  upon  the  popular 
tongue,  and  was  soon  displaced  entirely  hy  Texas. 

In  1713  Governor  Cadillac  of  Louisiana  ordered  Louis  Saint- 
Denis  to  organize  an  expedition  to  the  old  Spanish  missions  in 
Texas,  ostensibly  for  the  purpose  of  buying  hor.ses  and  cattle,  but 
reallv  for  exploring  the  territory  and  establishing  trade  with  the 


DIOCESE  OF  GALVESTON  5 

natives.  Cadillac  had  received  from  Fray  Francisco  Hidalgo  a 
letter  asking  his  co-operation  for  the  establishment  of  a  mission 
among  the  Asenais.  Padre  Hidalgo  had  been  at  San  Francisco 
de  los  Tejas,  and  when  that  Mission  was  abandoned  he  went  to 
San  Juan  Batista  on  the  Rio  Grande.  He  later  returned  to  the 
scene  of  his  earlier  labors  in  Texas  and  had  remained  for  several 
years  as  a  missionary  among  the  Asenais.  Appeal  after  appeal 
had  been  made  by  the  Franciscans  to  re-occupy  the  country  of  the 
Tejas,  but  in  vain.  Early  in  171 1  Padre  Hidalgo,  finding  it  im- 
possible to  inspire  the  authorities  in  Mexico  with  the  enthusiasm 
of  the  Franciscans,  wrote  to  the  governor  of  Louisiana.  Cadillac 
responded  promptly,  in  sharp  contrast  to  the  Spanish  neglect  and 
Louis  Jucherau  de  Saint-Denis  was  chosen  as  leader  of  the  ex- 
pedition. He  had  previously  led  parties  into  Texas  and  was  ex- 
perienced in  dealing  with  the  Indians.  His  expedition  started 
from  Mobile  in  the  fall  of  1713,  but  was  delayed  some  time 
at  Biloxi,  and  did  not  enter  Texas  until  1714.  When  he  reached 
the  Asenais  they  readily  lent  themselves  to  Saint-Denis's  policy. 
They  were  anxious  to  have  Padre  Hidalgo  return  and  they  gave 
him  the  necessary  guides  to  conduct  him  to  San  Juan  Batista, 
two  leagues  on  the  Mexican  side  from  the  river  and  about  thirty- 
five  miles  from  the  present  site  of  Eagle  Pass. 

Captain  Diego  Ramon,  the  commander  of  the  presidio,  treated 
Saint-Denis  and  his  companions  well  but  detained  them  until  he 
could  get  instructions  from  the  Viceroy.  Saint-Denis  kept  Cadillac 
informed  of  the  state  of  affairs  and  found  relief  for  the  suspense 
aiul  tedium  of  awaiting  the  Viceroy's  instruction  by  engaging 
himself  to  the  granddaughter  of  Captain  Ramon,  whom  he  married 
before  returning  to  Louisiana.  Eventually  he  was  called  to  the 
City  of  Mexico,  and  when  Espinosa  and  his  council  saw  that  they 
were  threatened  with  French  encroachment,  the  loss  of  northern 
trade  and  the  discovery  of  their  valual)le  mines,  they  readily 
yielded  to  Saint-Denis's  suggestion  that  the  governors  of  the  ex- 
posed provinces  be  directed  to  keep  out  the  French  and  that  the 
Missions  in  that  c|uarter  be  re-established.  The  council  planned 
an  expedition  to  establish  four  missions  among  the  Tejas  Indians. 
The  expedition  was  organized  under  the  leadership  of  Captain 
Dr)niingo  Ramon,  son  of  the  governor  of  the  presidio  of  San 
Juan  Batista.  I'csides  Ramon,  his  son  Diego  and  Saint-Denis, 
there  were  only  twenty-two  soldiers,  but  twelve  friars,  three  lay 
brothers  and  many  civilians  accompanied  the  party,  and  there  were 
a  few  families  and  several  married  men,  accompanied  by  their 
wives.  Saint-Denis  was  chief  convoy  and  f|uartermastcr  of  the 
outfit  anrl  had  notified  Cadillac  of  the  cntrada.  and  had  even  pro- 
posed a  counter-expedition  to  I'.spiritu  Santo  P.ay.  The  expedition 
led  hv  Ramon  made  its  final  start  from  the  Kio  Tirande  April  27, 


6  HISTORY  OF  THE 

1716,  and  followed  the  route  previously  traveled  by  Saint-Denis, 
and  in  two  months  they  came  to  the  country  of  the  Tejas,  who 
received  them  with  great  friendliness. 

Mission  San  Francisco  was  re-established,  but  on  a  site  four 
leagues  further  inland.  The  original  designation  was  changed 
to  San  Francisco  de  los  Neches.  Five  other  Missions  were 
founded,  whose  names  were  Nuestra  Senora  de  la  Guadalupe,  La 
Purissima  Concepcion,  San  Jose,  San  Miguel  de  Linares  and 
Nuestra  Senora  de  los  Dolores.  They  were  to  serve  respectively 
in  the  order  in  which  they  have  been  named,  beginning  with  San 
Francisco,  the  Neches  or  Nacogdoches,  the  Asinais,  the  Noaches. 
the  Adaes  and  the  Aes.  Guadalupe  was  near  the  present  town  of 
Nacogdoches  and  the  others  were  situated  in  an,  irregular  group 
around  it  at  distances  ranging  from  twenty-five  to  fifty  miles, 
the  last  two  being  well  towards  the  east  and  near  the  French 
settlements  already  established  on  the  Red  River. 

Saint-Denis  went  to  Louisiana  in  171 7  and  reentered  the 
French  service.  In  the  course  of  time  his  wife  rejoined  him. 
Spain  owed  him  much,  for  he  had  unwittingly  and  unwillingly 
strengthened  its  possession  of  a  goodly  land. 

From  1716,  when  the  Missions  in  East  Texas  were  re-estab- 
lished by  Ramon,  until  1762,  when  France  surrendered  Western 
Louisiana  to  Spain,  the  Spanish  and  French  stood  facing  each 
other  at  the  northeast  corner  of  Texas  in  close  proximity.  From 
the  Mission  of  Adaes  (which  was  truly  the  capital  of  Texas  for 
a  brief  period  before  the  removal  to  San  Antonio)  to  the  French 
fort  built  among  the  Nacogdoches  Indians,  was  only  seven  leagues. 
Whilst  the  civil  history  is  full  of  storm  and  strife,  the  Church 
struggle  is  covered  by  the  monograph  of  the  life  of  Blessed  An- 
tonio Margil  and  his  Franciscan  Companions,  and  the  story  of 
Texas  Missionary  Enterprises  in  the  eighteenth  and  early  nine- 
teenth century  as  compiled  by  Father  Rapp. 


CHAPTER  II. 


TEXAS  IN  THE  EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY. 
THE  MISSIONS  SUPPRESSED. 

Geographically  considered,  Texas  in  the  i8th  century  was  a 
somewhat  indefinite  and  changing  entity.  The  original  Texas  was 
the  territory  of  the  Hasinai  or  Asinai  (Texas)  Indians  between 
the  Trinity  and  Red  Rivers.  Early  in  the  i8th  century  the  bounda- 
ries were  extended  westward  to  include  the  settlements  on  the 
San  Antonio  River  and  Matagorda  Bay.  Later  in  the  century  the 
Nueces  River  was  considered  its  western  boundary.  Before  the 
middle  of  the  i8th  century  the  eastern  boundary  was  fixed  ten- 
tatively a  little  west  of  the  Red  River.  On  the  coast  Spain  forti- 
fied and  held  the  mouth  of  the  Trinity  as  another  point  and  pushed 
it  as  far  east  as  the  Sabine  River.  West  of  the  upper  Nueces 
and  San  Saba  Rivers  was  considered  as  belonging  to  Coahuila 
and  New  Mexico.  Generally  speaking  then,  Texas  in  the  middle 
iSth  century  comprised  the  eastern  half  of  the  present  State  of 
Texas  and  a  part  of  Western  Louisiana. 

At  the  opening  of  the  iSth  century  Texas  was  the  home  of 
the  Apache,  Comanche,  Lipon  and  many  other  Indian  tribes. 
These  native  tribes  were  of  concern  to  Spain  and  mainly  for  two 
reasons :  all  were  objects  of  solicitude  to  the  missionaries ;  they 
were  exposed  to  the  influence  of  French  explorations,  which  must 
be  counteracted.  At  the  close  of  the  first  period  of  the  i8th  cen- 
tury I'exas  was  distinctively  a  buffer  province.  The  two  prin- 
cipal factors  which  made  it  worth  while  to  occupy  were  its  Frendi 
neighbors  and  its  native  inhabitants.  By  1731  Spanish  claims  to 
most  of  the  region  had  been  vindicated  and  the  outlines  of  the 
province  drawn.  The  points  of  occupation  at  that  time  fell  into 
two  distinct  groups,  one  lying  between  the  Neches  and  the  Red 
Rivers — the  original  Texas;  another  on  the  San  Antonio  and 
Guadalupe  Rivers.  On  the  Rio  Grande  at  San  Juan  P)atista  there 
was  a  third  grouj)  which  was  intimately  connected  with  the  de- 
velopment of  the  region  between  the  Rio  Grande  and  San  Antonio 
Rivers.  In  civil  and  military  affairs  all  this  province  was  subject 
directly  to  the  Spanish  viceroy  at  Mexico  City  and  in  ecclesiastical 
matters  to  the  Archbishop  of  Guadalajara. 

The  first  missions,  like  the  presidios  or  military  garrisons, 
were  frontier  institutions.  They  worked  hand  in  hand  however. 
The  central  figure  of  every  mission  was  the  Indian  pueblo  or 


8 


HISTORY  OF  Tiin: 


village.  If  the  Indian  was  to  ])e  civilized  or  christianized  he  must 
be  kept  in  a  definite  spot.  To  effect  this  and  to  afford  the  mis- 
sionaries protection  as  well  as  to  hold  the  frontier  against  in- 
vaders, presidios  or  garrisons  were  established  nearby,  provided 
with  a  guard.  The  missions  of  Texas  were  conducted  originally 
by  two  Franciscan  missionary  colleges  of  Queretaro  and  Zaca- 
tecas.  Mexico.  The  missions  were  grouped  into  presidencies. 
The  Zacatecan  missions  in  eastern  Texas  and  those  on  the  San 
Antonio  River  constituted  separate  presidencies.  The  Queretaran 
missions  were  along  the  Rio  Grande. 

The  first  priests  that  set  foot  on  Texas  soil  with  actual  coloni- 
zation in  view  were  Fathers  Zenobius  Neambre,  Anastase  Douay, 
IMaximus  Le  Clercq,  Father  John  Cavelier,  a  brother  of  La 
Salle,  and  Father  Chefdeville,  who  accompanied  the  French  ex- 
plorer LaSalle  on  his  expedition  to  colonize  the  lower  part  of  the 
Mississippi  River.  LaSalle  and  his  troupe  set  out  from  Rochelle, 
France,  on  the  24th  of  July,  1684.  His  dream  was  to  colonize 
the  beautiful  wilderness  watered  by  the  lower  Mississippi,  but  his 
dream  was  never  realized.  Having  no  exact  chart  to  the  pathless 
and  unknown  waters  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  he  lost  his  way  to 
the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  and  sailing  westward  he  came  on 
January  ist,  1685,  i"  sight  of  the  low-lying  shores  of  Texas  and 
entered  Espiritu  Santo  Bay,  now  Matagorda  Bay.  Attended  by 
soldiers  and  priests  and  over  three  hundred  souls,  he  set  foot  on 
the  new  land.  He  explored  the  country  round  about.  At  the 
end  of  a  short  time  he  marked  out  the  foundation  for  a  fort  be- 
side a  small  stream^  which  empties  into  the  Bay.  This  stream 
he  called  Les  Vaches  (La  Vaca),  Cow  River,  from  the  number  of 
buffaloes  which  he  saw  grazing  on  the  banks.  The  fortress  was 
named  St.  Louis  and  a  chapel  was  built  nearby,  later  Bahia  Mis- 
sion. For  two  years  these  five  priests  had  offered  the  Holy 
Sacrifice  in  a  chapel  constructed  near  the  fort  and  administered 
the  sacraments.  There  were  marriages  and  baptisms,  the  sick 
to  console  with  religious  rites  and  the  dead  for  whom  to  offer 
the  Mass  of  Requiem.  Spain  soon  learned  that  France  was  laying 
unlawful  hands  on  her  Spanish  possessions  in  the  new  world  and 
consequently  ordered  her  viceroy  in  Mexico  to  set  out  and  expel 
them,  if  found. 

A  military  council  was  held  at  the  new  outpost  of  Mexico, 
Monclova,  and  Captain  yMonzo  de  Leon  was  dispatched  in  1689 
to  find  and  destroy  LaSalle  and  his  colony.  The  pioneer  Spanish 
priest  to  accompany  this  expedition  was  the  Franciscan  Father 
Damian  Massanet.  Captain  De  Leon  found  the  fort  erected  by 
La  Salle  but  it  was  abandoned  and  nothing  left  of  the  French 
colony  save  bleaching  bones  scattered  about  the  blockhouse  where 
the  little  colony  made  its  last  desperate  stand  against  the  blood- 


DIOCESE  OF  GALVESTON  9 

thirsty  Indians.  The  broken  walls  of  the  fort  were  restored. 
The  first  mission  in  Texas  was  begun  and'  dedicated  to  San  Fran- 
cisco de  los  Tejas.  This  was  in  1690,  and  at  Crockett,  some  fifty 
miles  southwest  of  Nacogdoches.  Now  the  Spanish  flag  fluttered 
in  the  breeze  and  De  Leon  took  possession  of  the  country  in  the 
name  of  the  King  of  Spain.  Soon  thereafter  there  came  mission- 
ary bands  out  of  Mexico  and  in  various  parts  of  Texas  and  the 
foundations  were  laid  for  the  so-called  missions,  some  of  which 
are  to  this  day  the  pride  and  joy  of  Texan  Catholics.  They  were 
scattered  along  the  various  shores  of  all  the  rivers  and  streams  in 
Texas  from  the  Sabine  and  Neches  to  the  Brazos  de  Dios  and 
San  Antonio  Rivers  and  down  to  the  Rio  Grande. 

In  1699  Fathers  Hidalgo,  San  Buenaventura  and  Ysidro  de 
Espinosa  crossed  over  the  Rio  Grande  River,  where  steps  were 
taken  to  establish  the  missions  along  this  river.  They  were  San 
Juan  Batista,  San  Bernardo,  San  Cristobal  and  San  Francisco. 
These  were  maintained  until  1718,  when  they  were  transferred 
to  San  Antonio,  where  before  that  time  no  missions  were  as  yet 
founded. 

From  1690  to  1714  neither  France  nor  Spain  seemed  inclined 

to  trouble  themselves  about  taking  formal  possession  of  this  vast 

country,  now  Texas,  by  establishing  missions  and  colonies  in  it. 

An  incident  however  occurred  in  1714  which  gave  the  first  impetus 

to  real  activity  along  these  lines.     It  was  the  incident  of  the  Bold 

Rider,  Juchereau  St.  Denis,  a  shrewd  French  explorer  and  trader, 

who  was  sent  in   1714  by  the  Governor  of  Louisiana,   Cadillac, 

on  an  expedition  to  open  trade  across  Texas  with  the  Spanish  in 

Mexico.     St.  Denis  set  out  from  Mobile  in  that  year  and  arrived 

in  Mexico  and  made  known  his  plans  to  the  Mexican  Government 

officials.     An  expedition   was  organized,  with   Domingo  Ramon 

as  commander  and  St.  Denis  as  guide.     In  all  tbcre  were  twelve 

IVanciscan  Friars,  among  whom  was  our  \'en.  .\nlonio  dc  Margil, 

founder  of  the   missions  around   Nacogdoches,   and   some   sixty 

civilians,  who  set  out  in  April,  1716,  and  came  into  the  land  of  the 

Tejas.    They  journeyed  on  until  they  reached  the  place  where  the 

first  mission  was  opened  by  De  Leon's  missionary  band  in  1690. 

This  they  now  re-established  luider  the  new  name  of  San  L'ran- 

cisco  de  los  Neches,  and  besides  this,  five  other  missions  were 

founded,    all    within    twenty-five   to    fifty    miles   of   our   present 

Xacogdoches.    They  bore  the  names  oi  (  1  )  Xuestra  Scnora  de  la 

Guadalu])e,   (2)    La  Purissima  Concepcion,    (3)    San  Jose,   (4) 

San  Miguel  de  Linares,  and  (5)  Nuestra  Senora  de  los  Dolores. 

The  first  mentioned  was  where  now  Nacogdoches  is  located,  and 

was   foupfled  by  Ven.  Antonio  Margil  July  20,    1716.     Here  a 

wretcbed  hut  was  the  convent  of  the  missionary  fntliers,  but  they 

were  as  liappy  as  in  a  palace.  They  recited  the  office  in  common, 

had  their  hours  of  meditation,  hours  for  the  studv  of  the  Indian 


10  HISTORY  OF  TllH 

language,  and  time  lor  cultivating  the  ground  for  their  own  sup- 
port, and  time  for  working  on  their  Church  and  convent.  To  this 
day  the  people  of  Nacogdoches  of  Spanish  origin  point  to  a  spring 
of' pure  water  which  their  ancestors  named  the  "Fountain  of 
Father  Margil,"  asserting  that  it  was  due  to  the  prayers  of  that 
holy  man  in  a  season  when  all  springs  had  failed.  In  January, 
1717,  Father  Margil,  suffering  from  cold  and  hardships,  joined 
the  Mission  of  Nuestra  Senora  de  los  Dolores,  west  of  the  Sabine. 
In  March  he  established,  near  the  sheet  of  water  in  western 
Louisiana  called  to  this  day  the  Spanish  Lake,  the  Mission  of 
San  Miguel  de  Linares.  All  these  missions  were  completed  by 
1717.  After  the  establishment  of  these  eastern  groups  of  mis- 
sions, another  expedition  set  out  under  Martin  de  Alarcoa,  Gov- 
ernor of  Coahuila  and  later  of  Texas,  to  look  after  colonization 
of  Texas  lands.  He  set  out  in  1718  and  founded  the  presidio  of 
San  Antonio  de  Bejar  on  the  San  Antonio  River  and  the  Mission 
San  Antonio  de  Valero.  This  foundation  is  not  a  new  one,  but 
a  transfer  of  the  one  named  San  Francisco  Solano  on  the  Rio 
Grande  founded  in  1699. 

The  Mission  of  San  Antonio  de  Valero  was  soon  re-enforced 
by  several  others.  In  1720  the  Mission  of  San  Jose  de  Ogury 
was  founded,  and  in  1722  that  of  San  Francisco  de  Naxera.  In 
1 73 1  the  eastern  missions  around  Nacogdoches  were  moved  to 
San  Antonio  and  their  names  changed  to  San  Francisco  de  la 
Espada,  La  Purissima  Concepcion  de  Acuna  and  San  Juan  Capis- 
trano.  The  missions  founded  by  Ven.  Antonio  Margil,  however, 
were  maintained.  These  were  Nuestra  Senora  de  Guadalupe, 
near  the  present  city  of  Nacogdoches,  and  the  missions  of  Los 
Dolores  and  San  Miguel.  Near  here  was  also  maintained  the 
Spanish  frontier  presidio  or  military  post,  which  the  missionaries 
attended  as  chaplains,  as  they  did  also  Nacogdoches,  when  it  was 
made  a  parish. 

What  is  now  known  as  the  Alamo  is  the  transferred  San  An- 
tonio de  Valero  Mission,  said  to  have  been  begun  in  1722.  It 
appears  to  have  been  the  chapel  of  the  Mission  of  San  Antonio 
de  Valero. 

Almost  from  the  beginning  the  work  in  Eastern  Texas  there 
seems  to  have  been  some  among  the  Spanish  who  distrusted  the 
system  of  colonizing  by  means  of  missions.  In  1727  General 
Pedro  Rivera  made  a  round  of  inspection  among  the  established 
missions  in  Texas.  He  found  them  all  in  bad  shape  and  recom- 
mended that  they  be  suppressed.  The  missionaries  protested. 
The  presidios  were  suppressed,  but  the  Friars  obtained  permis- 
sion to  move  their  missions  to  the  San  Antonio  River. 

I"  1755  Governor  Barrios  of  Texas  learned  that  the  French 
intended  to  establish  a  colony  on  the  Trinity  River.  He  reported 
the  danger  to  the  viceroy  in  Mexico  and  provided  at  once  to  se- 


DIOCESE  OF  GALVESTON  IT 

cure  the  position  for  his  country,  Mexico,  by  establishing  a  pre- 
sidio and  mission  at  the  mouth  of  the  Trinity,  which  was  called 
the  mission  of  Xuestra  Senora  de  la  Luz.    Fray  Romero,  Chavira 
and  Satereyn  were  the  active  missionaries  in  this  territory  among 
the  Orcoquisac  and  Bidai  Indians.    The  site  was  fixed  two  leagues 
from  the  head  of  the  Bay  or  near  the  north  line  of  present  Cham- 
bers  County.     It   was   called   also   San   Augustin   de   Ahumada. 
Barrios  soon  complained  that  these  missionaries  were  vmsuited  for 
their  task,  because  the  one  was  very  young  and  the  other.  Father 
Chavira,  was  old  and  feeble  in  health.     He  carried  his  complaint 
to  Father  \'allejo  at  Adaes,  further  east,  who  promised  to  hav? 
them  removed  and  others  sent.     Before  long  Father  Chavira  suc- 
cumbed to  the  unhealthfulness  of  the  country  and  died.     Father 
Satereyn  remained.     The   Indians  here  were  very  tractable  and 
friendly.    They  professed  anxiety  to  enter  the  mission ;  they  built 
a  house  for  the  missionaries  and  planted  six  "almuds"  of  corn. 
The  church  was  made  of  wood  all  hewn,  and  beaten  clay  mixed 
with  moss  and  had  four  arched  portals.    To  select  a  site  for  the 
villa,  Barrios  commanded  Lt.  del  Rio  and  Don  Bernardo  de  Mir- 
ando  to  make  a  survey.     The  first  "ojo"  examined  was  three 
leagues  west  of  the  San  Jacinto  River,  going  up  stream  to  the 
village  of  El  Gordo,  they  found  a  large  stream  and  dividing  at  a 
short  distance  into  two  smaller  streams,  one  running  from  the 
northwest  and  one  from  the  south.    This  was  regarded  as  the  best 
place  for  the  site  and  is  marked  on  Mirando's  map,  1757,  as  Santa 
Rosa.     It  was  apparently  where  Houston  now  is.      (Page  350, 
foot  note,  Bolton.)     I'arther  uj)  the  Trinity  River  was  founded  in 
1774  the  mission  called    Nucstra   Senora  de   Pilar  de   Ikicareli, 
named  for  Antonio  Maria  Bucarelli  y  Ursua,  viceroy  of  Mexico. 
It  was,  according  to  Gil  y  Barbo,  a  two  days'  march  from  the 
Texas  village  at  Nacogdoches,  near  Bidais  Creek,  which  flows 
into  the  Trinity  River  between  Walker  and   Madison  Counties. 
(Bolton,  page  406)  and  near  Robbins  I'Y'rry  at  the  old  village  of 
Randolph.    This  mission  was  established  for  the  exiles  from  Adaes 
in  Louisiana,  with  Gil  y   F)arI)o  as  their  captain.     .\  year  after 
its  beginning  this  mission  had  numerous  jacales,  or  huts,  twenty 
houses  of  hewn  wood  grouped  around  the  plaza,  a  wooden  cluirch 
and  a  guardhouse  or  stocks.     In  1777  there  were  more  than  fifty 
houses   here,   corrals,    fields,    roads   cut    oi)cn    and    an    iinpioyed 
river  crossing.     A  census  taken  in    1777  showed  the  population 
of  the  place  to  consist  of  three  hundred  and  forty-seven  pcr.sons. 
There   was  no  resident  missionary   here;   it   was  attended   from 
San  Antonio  missions  by  I-'ather  Garza,  who  was  sent  later  on 
to  Nacogdoches  and  subsequently  became  president  ni  all   the 
Zacatecan  missions  in  Texas.  .    . 

Towards  the  middle  of  the  i8th  century.  1747.  t'lrce  missions 
were  established  on  the  San  Gabriel  River,  a  western  tributary 


12  iiisTouv  o]-  Tin-: 

to  tlic  cenlral  i'.nuos  River.  The  first  was  called  San  l'"rancisco 
Xavier,  the  second  San  lldefonso  and  the  third  Nuestra  Sefiora  de 
la  Candelaria.  The  chief  missionaries  here  were  Fray  Mariano  and 
I'Vay  Gonzabal,  the  latter  being  killed  for  the  cause  of  the  Faith. 
These  missions  were  located  in  Milam  County  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Rockdale  and  San  Gabriel.  In  1750  there  were  in  the 
three  missions  four  hundred  and  eighty  resident  Indians  and  the 
books  of  the  mission  showed  that  two  hundred  and  sixty-six  had 
received  baptism.  Some  progress  was  also  made  in  building  and 
agriculture  and  in  October,  1750,  the  construction  of  an  irriga- 
tion ditch  and  a  dam  was  begun.  Felipe  de  Rabago  Teran  was 
made  military  captain  of  these  missions.  Hardly  did  he  arrive 
when  a  dispute  arose  over  the  mission  guards.  He  hampered 
very  nuich  the  progress  and  work  of  these  missions  and  was  not 
at  all  friendly  towards  the  missionary  fathers.  He  was  exhorted 
'by  them  to  change  his  immoral  life,  but  not  heeding  their  prayers 
he  w^as  reprimanded  publicly  for  living  openly  in  adultery  and 
was  finally  excommunicated.  His  soldiers  in  the  presidio  were 
likewise  leading  scandalous  lives  and  giving  the  missionaries 
much  cause  for  worry.  As  there  was  no  harmony  between  the 
military  and  the  missionaries,  the  Indians,  instigated  by  Rabago, 
killed  Fray  Gonzabel  in  1752,  as  he  was  found  standing  in  the 
door  of  the  mission  of  Candelaria.  Fray  Mariano  wrote  to  his 
superiors  in  1750  that  the  Indians  were  living  in  insubordination 
and  that  the  missionaries  had  little  power  to  restrain  them  since 
they  saw  the  King's  agents  living  in  strife  and  sin.  Provisions 
were  always  short,  as  the  royal  officials  of  the  exchequer  in 
Mexico  flatly  refused  aid  for  these  missions.  They  even  denied 
the  missionaries  the  permission  to  solicit  alms  from-  the  other 
missions  on  the  Rio  Grande  and  San  Antonio  Rivers.  In  the 
summer  a  terrible  epidemic  of  smallpox  broke  out  that  almost 
swept  clean  the  missions  of  their  neophytes.  The  scenes  were 
horrible,  but  the  missionaries  worked  bravely,  lending  aid  where 
possible  and  rejoicing  at  the  opportunity  to  l)aptize  the  dying 
savages.  These  missions  were  the  scenes  of  constant  trouble 
from  one  source  or  other.  The  crisis  was  reached  in  the  murdering 
of  Father  Gonzabal.  It  seems  that  Rabago  instigated  the  Indians 
against  this  missionary  for  having  posted  the  notice  of  his  ex- 
communication on  the  presidio.  The  Indians  went  on  the  warpath 
aiifl  after  piercing  Fray  Gonzabal's  heart  with  an  arrow,  they 
made  life  around  these  missions  impossible  and  put  an  end  to 
their  usefulness  in  this  locality.  They  w^ere  soon  removed  to  a 
site  on  the  San  Saba  and  Guadalupe  Rivers.  On  account  of  the 
sins  of  those  who  were  sent  to  help  the  missionaries  Christianize 
the  Indian  savages.  Providence  made  the  site  of  these  missions 
untenable.  Father  Mariano,  the  head  missionary  of  these  mis- 
sions,  thus   described    in    1760   the    situation    to   the   viceroy   of 


DIOCESE  OF  GALVESTON  1 3 

Arexico :  "The  sacrilegious  homicides  having  been  perpetrated, 
the  elements  at  once  conspired,  declaring  divine  justice  provoked, 
for  in  the  sky  appeared  a  ball  of  fire  so  horrible  that  all  were 
terrified,  and  with  so  notable  a  circumference  that  it  circled  from 
the  presidio  to  the  mission  of  Orcoquizac  (at  the  mouth  of  the 
Trinity  River).  It  burst  and  made  a  noise  like  a  loud  cannon 
shot.  The  river  ceased  to  run  and  what  water  remained  became 
so  corrupt  that  it  was  extremely  noxious  and  intolerable  to  the 
smell.  The  air  became  so  infected  that  many  died  of  a  malicious 
pest.  We  all  found  ourselves  in  the  last  extremes  of  life.  The 
land,  so  beautiful  a  plain  before,  became  a  thicket  in  which  hor- 
rible crevices  opened  that  caused  terror.  The  inhabitants  were 
so  aroused  that  in  order  to  escape  extermination  they  moved 
more  than  thirty  leagues  away  without  any  other  permission  than 
that  granted  them  by  the  natural  right  to  save  their  own  lives." 

The  missions  around  Nacogdoches  had  not  such  a  sad  ending. 
Monsieur  de  Pages,  a  French  gentleman,  who  passed  through 
this  territory  in  1766.  writes  thus  of  the  mission  established  at 
Nacogdoches  and  dedicated  to  Nuestra  Seiiora  de  Guadalupe  as 
seen  above.  He  says  he  received  a  hospitable  welcome  from  the 
Padres  there.  He  describes  the  fine  Plaza  at  Nacogdoches  and 
its  beautiful  trees  and  praises  its  fine  climate.  He  admires  their 
fine  robust  horses  and  says  a  good  horse  may  be  had  for  a  pair 
of  shoes.  The  Indians  there  were  a  corn-growing  people.  In 
1778  a  fort  was  built  there  for  the  soldiers.  A  few  huts  were 
clustered  about  it,  which  provided  a  stopping  place  for  travelers 
•and  adventurers.  It  became  later  the  gateway  through  which 
Anglo-American  energy  and  ambition  came  into  Texas.  From 
its  plaza  unrolled  a  panorama  full  of  life  and  vigor.  It  opens 
with  Philip  Nolan  of  Iri.sh  flcscent,  who  in  1797  obtained  a  per- 
mit from  De  Nava.  the  Spanish  commandant  general  of  Texas, 
to  collect  in  Texas  wild  horses  for  the  American  arniv.  'i"lu'\ 
went  as  far  west  as  where  the  city  of  Waco  now  stands,  where 
they  found  "elk  and  deer  plenty,  buffalo  and  thousands  of  wild 
horses." 

On  the  loth  of  April,  1794,  Don  Pedro  De  Xava.  ("omni;m<I 
ant  General  of  the  northeastern  internal  provinces,  of  whi^Ii 
Texas  formcfl  a  part,  piiblisbcd  a  decree  by  which  all  missions 
were  sccularizefl.  The  Franciscans  remained  as  pastors  of  their 
flocks  until  1824.  On  the  28th  of  July.  1801.  Pt.  Rev.  Martin 
de  Porras  was  elected  I'isho])  of  Linares  and  soon  afterwards 
made  a  visitation  of,  his  diocese.  In  1805  he  came  to  Texas  as 
far  as  Nacogdoches,  where  he  was  received  in  a  splcnclid  manner 
by  the  soldiers  anrl  peoi:)le. 

In  Texas  the  Franciscan  missions  terminated  in   1824,  when 
the  missionaries  were  suppressed  by  the  Spanish  government  and 


14  IIISTOUV  OF  TIIK 

the  Iiulians  dispersed.     Roug^h  and  turbulent  frontiersmen,  full 
of  liatred  for  the  Catholic  Church,  took  their  place. 

In  1832  a  last  attempt  was  made  to  seek  entrance  again  upon 
the  Texas  missions  and  the  Bishop  of  Monterey  sent  Father  Diaz 
( I )  de  Leon  to  Nacogdoches.  1  Uit  he  was  not  to  labor  long,  for 
the  hand  of  an  assassin  was  ready  to  send  him  to  his  Maker.  The 
saintly  Father  de  Leon  felt  that  he  was  among  many  wolves  and 
prepared  to  follow  his  Savior,  forgiving  all  his  enemies  before 
he  died.  The  following  he  left  in  writing:  ^^ House  of  Mr. 
Prentiss  B onion.  This  Sunday,  November  4th,  1834,  I  returned 
to  this  house  and  as  it  seems  to  me  to  be  the  last  day  of  my  life — 
God  knows  why — I  address  my  weak  and  languishing  words  to 
my  beloved  parishioners  of  Nacogdoches,  bidding  them  from  the 
bottom  of  my  heart  an  earnest  farewell.  Adios,  Adios.  I  salute 
them  with  my  heart  in  my  eyes  and  in  my  tears,  especially  Mr. 
Roberts,  Lt.  Col.  E.  Bean,  etc.,  etc.,  and  all  and  every  one  who 
believes  in  Jesus  Christ,  and  let  it  be  clear  and  well  known  from 
this  that  I  beg  pardon  from  each  and  all  the  persons  whom  I 
have  offended  and  likewise  prostrate  in  spirit,  on  the  ground,  I 
pardon,  with  all  my  heart  all  and  every  person  who  may  have 
offended  me,  be  the  offense  why  it  may.  I  press  all,  without 
exception,  to  my  heart  as  my  beloved  children  in  the  charity  of 


(1)     Vide  Sotoma}^or,  p.  517. 

"Cuando  se  destruyeron  las  Misiones  de  Tejas  para  que  entraron  los 
empresarios  estranjeros,  pidieron  los  Gobiernos  secular  y  eclesiastico, 
de  la  federacion  y  de  N.  Leon,  al  Colegio  de  Guadalupe,  que  proveyese 
de  ministros  los  nuevos  establccimientos.  Como  entre  los  empresarios 
habia  algunos  catolicos,  uno  de  cllos,  acaso  eon  acucrdo  de  varios, 
dirijio  una  comunicacion  al  Colegio,  en  idioma  latino,  suplicandole  al 
Rmo.  P.  Comisario  que  no  permitiera  fuera  ninguno  de  los  religiosos 
que  se  pedian,  porque  le  constaba  que  en  varias  reunioncs  de  los  em- 
presarios no  catolicos,  se  habia  tratado  de  declarar  una  oculta  persc- 
cucion  a  los  misioneros.  Parece  que  no  creyo  la  nota  anonima  en  que 
se  daba  tan  importante  aviso,  y  marcharon  para  aquellas  ticrras  los 
RR.  PP.  Antonio  Diaz  de  Leon  y  Fr.  Miguel  Muro.  Este  ultimo  tuvo 
aviso  de  las  intenciones  de  los  estranjeros,  pero  el  R.  P.  Diaz,  crcyendo 
buena  fe  en  cllos  y  no  cierto  lo  que  se  decia,  se  intcrno  hasta  Nacog- 
doches, a  donde  llcgo  resolvicndose  a  vivir  en  aquel  dcsierto,  llcvado 
unicamcnte  del  celo  de  las  almas.     Hizo  inmensos  sacrificios  para  reedi- 

ficar  un  temple  arruinado     Los  estranjeros  que,  sin  duda,  eran 

protestantes,  se  disgustaban  de  ver  aquel  apostol  de  la  verdadera  Iglesia. 
......  y  concibieron  el  impio  proyecto  de  asesin  arlo  Esperaron  la 

ocasion  y  consiguieron  su  intento,  quitando  la  vida  en  despoblado  al 
V.  P.  Diaz  de  Leon,  y  haciendo  despues  correr,  con  sumo  descaro,  la 
cspecie  de  que  el  V.  Martir,  se  habia  suicidado.  Este  martirio  sucedio 
el  dia  4  de  Nov.  de  1834.  "El  .  P.",  dice  el  Rdo.  P.  Frejes,  "quaia 
preveia  su  muerte,  escribia  carta  a  sus  fieles  Icna  de  conceptos 
religiosos  y  de  exprcsiones  las  mas  tiernas  y  fervorosas  con  que  un 
Pastor  puede  hablar  en  la  hora  de  su  muerte  a  su  rebano". 


DIOCESE  OF  GALVESTON  I 5 

our  Lord  Jesus  Christ;  also  to  the  Alcalde  of  the  Ayuntamiento, 
Don  Juan  Mora,  farewell,  I  say,  farewell.  Amen,  Amen.  This 
letter  with  like  expressions  of  affection  I  address  to  my  dear 
friend.  Dr.  Sam  Santos,  that  he  may  send  it  to  his  correspondents 
to  display  my  heart  to  all  my  parishioners,  whom'  I  beseech  in 
the  bowels  of  our  Savior,  Jesus  Christ,  to  persevere  firmly  in 
keeping  the  law  of  God  and  the  sacred  obligations  they  contracted 
in  baptism.  And  I  beg  him  to  hand  this  to  my  nephew,  Santos 
Antonio  Aviles.  that  he  may  copy  it  and  live  in  the  fear  of  the 
Author  of  his  being."    Fray  Antonio  Diaz  de  Leon. 

He  left  the  house  and  was  never  seen  again.  It  is  recorded 
that  he  was  assassinated  near  the  town  of  St.  Augustine,  some 
thirty  miles  southeast  of  Nacogdoches. 


CHAPTER  III. 


THE  VENERABLE  ANTONIO  MARGIL  DE  JESUS. 

.Als?r.  W.  W.  Hume.  D.  D. 

[The  following  sketch  is  based  upon  the  lives  of  P.  Margil  by 
Espinosa  (his  companion  in  Texas),  Vilaplana  and  Ignacio  Da- 
vila-Garibi,  upon  the  Histories  of  Sotomayor  and  Tiscarefio, 
and  upon  some  few  notes  made  by  the  writer  from  archives  in 
Mexico.  The  writer  desires  to  point  out  that  the  sketch  is  wo- 
fully  deficient,  for  he  has  not  at  hand  even  the  Cronicas;  he  hopes 
however  that  it  may  serve  to  direct  attention  to  the  greatest  of 
all  Texan  and  IMcxican  missionaries  and  he  begs  those  who  may 
read  it  to  say  a  Hail  Mary  to  Our  Lady  of  Guadalupe,  to  whom 
Margil  was  always  most  devout  and  in  whose  hands  he  placed  the 
keys  of  his  College  at  Zacatecas.  calling  her  its  Superior,  that 
we  may  soon  see  the  triumphant  beatification  of  him  who  in  his 
humility  used  to  call  himself  "la  inisnia  nada.^'] 

The  Servant  of  God,  Antonio  Margil  de  Jesus,  was  born  at 
Valencia  in  Spain  on  August  i8th,  1657,  and  from  his  earliest 
days  gave  promise  of  great  sanctity.  He  entered  the  Franciscan 
Order  just  before  he  was  sixteen,  receiving  the  habit  from  P. 
Jose  Salelles  on  April  22nd.  1673,  in  the  Convent  of  the  Holy 
Crown  of  Christ  in  Valencia  and  making  his  solemn  profession 
on  April  25th  of  the  following  year.  His  life  at  this  time  was, 
as  always,  most  mortified  as  the  following  story  shows.  His 
custom  was  to  go  every  night  after  Matins  to  the  garden  of  the 
Convent  where  he  made  the  Stations  of  the  Cross,  carrying  a 
very  heavy  cross  of  wood ;  after  he  had  finished  this  task  he  used 
to  go  to  a  little  oratory  and  pray  there  for  as  long  as  his  Director 
would  permit.  One  day  the  Director,  as  a  test,  asked  him  if  he 
used  to  drive  away  the  mosquitoes  v^'hilst  he  was  praying  or  if 
he  endured  them  in  patience.  Margil  replied  that  he  would  let 
them  bite  him  a's  they  would,  and  obeyed  so  literally  that  the  next 
day  he  appeared  with  his  face  terribly  swollen — and  the  Direc- 
tor, being  a  man  of  sense,  put  an  end  to  this  particular  mortifica- 
tion. After  his  ordination  he  was  sent  to  the  town  of  Onda, 
where  his  preachings  were  most  successful,  and  thence  to  the  Con- 
vent of  Denia,  where  he  found  the  well-known  P.  Antonio  Linar, 
who  was  about  to  leave  Spain  for  his  missionary  work  in  the  New 
World.  Margil  obtained  permission  to  join  him  and  sailed  with 
him  and  his  companions  from  Cadiz,  arriving  at  Vera  Cruz  on 


Vcn<-rnlilc  Anioiiio  M.in'il  Af  jcsus 


DIOCESE   OF  GALVESTON  1 7 

June  5th,  1683,  shortly  after  that  port  had  been  sacked  by  the 
pirate  Lorencillo.  The  band  of  Missionaries  started  at  once  for 
Queretaro,  preaching  on  the  way,  and  reached  the  Convent  of 
the  Holy  Cross  on  August  i6th  of  the  same  year.  Here  Margil 
remained  until  March,  1684,  when,  in  company  with  his  beloved 
P.  Melchor  Lopez,  he  set  out  to  preach  the  Gospel  throughout 
the  whole  of  Southern  Mexico  and  what  is  now  Central  Amer- 
ica. The  difficulties  of  the  work  were  prodigious,  the  country 
being  unexplored,  filled  with  wild  beasts  and  populated  by 
Indians,  many  of  whom  were  most  hostile  (some  being  canni- 
bals) and  all  of  them  sunk  in  idolatry  and  superstition.  The 
Missionaries  were,  in  general,  dependent  upon  themselves  for 
their  support  and  they  lived  as  real  Apostles  u[X)n  what  they 
could  find  for  themselves  or  on  what  the  Indians  gave  them. 
Margil  went  through  all  those  desert  places,  full  of  rocks  and 
thorns  and  without  tracks  for  the  most  part,  barefoot  (according 
to  Espinosa  he  only  rode  once,  shortly  before  the  journey  to 
Texas,  and  then  suffered  agonies,  as  he  was  troubled  with  a 
double  hernia)  and  it  was  noticed  after  his  death,  that  the  feet 
which  had  borne  him  so  many  leagues  "preaching  the  gospel  of 
peace,"  which  should  have  been  worn  and  calloused,  were  as 
white  and  supple  as  those  of  a  child.  His  work,  especially  in 
Guatamala,  was  amazingly  successful  and  it  is  said  that  in  Tala- 
nianca  alone  he  baptized  more  than  40,000  Indians.  In  spite 
of  his  unceasing  labors  he  found  time  to  study  the  Indian  lan- 
guages, for  which  he  seems  to  have  had  an  astonishing  facility, 
and  made  vocabularies  of  many  of  them.  After  thirteen  years 
of  work  in  Central  America  he  was  recalled  to  Queretaro  in 
April,  i(x)7.  and  appointed  (iuardiaii.  lie  was  again  sent  to 
Guatamala  in  1701,  where  he  founded  the  Missionary  College 
of  Santa  Cruz,  of  which  he  was  the  first  Superior;  In  1703  he 
went  to  Nicaragua,  where  his  main  work  was  the  spiritual  con- 
(|ucst  of  Sevaro.  Returning  to  Mexico  in  1706.  he  founded  the 
Missionary  College  at  Zacatecas,  placing  it  under  the  patronage 
of  Our  Lady  of  Guadalupe,  whom  he  named  as  its  Superior  and 
before  whose  holy  picture  he  placed  the  keys  of  the  house.  He 
wa.s  the  Founder,  First  Visitf)r  and  President  of  this  College, 
many  of  whose  .sons  were  to  have  a  great  share  in  the  future 
history  of  Texas,  among  others,  the  well-known  !'.  Jose  (nierra, 
of  whom  Margil  used  to  say:  "  I'.!  i'a'lrc  Gncrra  es  giicrra  con- 
tra el    infierno." 

In  171 1  he  attempted  the  thankless  task  of  the  conversion  of 
the  Indians  of  the  Sierra  of  Nayarit,  a  work  in  which  he  failed 
because,  as  Mota  Padilla  says,  the  Indians  were  not  only  heathen, 
hut  in  many  cases  apostates  as  well,  and  thus  the  more  obstinate. 
Margil  failed  and  to  this  day  the  conversion  of  Nayarit  has  been 
only  partially  accomplished.'  After  the  failure  of  this  expedition, 


l8  HlSroUV  OK  TIIR 

Marj^il  was  occujiied  with  Missions  in  the  north  of  Mexico, 
where  he  founded  the  Hospice  at  Baco  de  Leones  in  Nuevo  Leon, 
which  was  afterwards  of  such  service  to  the  Texas  Missionaries. 

About  this  time  it  was  determined  to  send  an  expedition  to 
Texas,  the  motives  being  partly  to  establish  posts  to  provide 
against  the  dangers  of  a  French  invasion  and  partly,  and  genu- 
inely, to  send  the  Gospel  to  the  Indians  in  North-east  Texas,  in 
which  region  lived  "tw'O  confederacies  of  the  great  Caddoan 
linguistic  stock,  the  Hasinai  and  the  Caddo  proper.  The  Hasi- 
nai  lived  on  the  Angelina  and  Upper  Neches  rivers,  and  com- 
prised some  ten  or  more  tribes,  of  which  the  best  known  were  the 
Hainai,  Nacogdoche,  Nabedache,  Nasoni  and  Nadaco.  They 
were  a  settled  people  who  had  been  living  in  the  same  region 
certainly  ever  since  the  time  of  La  Salle  and  probably  long  be- 
fore. They  dwelt  in  scattered  villages,  practiced  agriculture  to 
a  considerable  extent,  and  hunted  buffalo  on  the  western  prairies. 
The  Caddo,  whose  culture  was  similar,  lived  northeast  of  the 
Hasinai,  along  Red  River,  between  Natchitoches  and  the  region 
of  Texarkana.  Of  this  group  the  best  known  tribes  were  the 
Adaes,  Natchitoches,  Yatasi,  Petit  Caddo,  Oadadacho,  Nassonite 
and  Nadaes.     (Bolton:     "Texas  in  the  i8th  Century,"  page  2). 

Captain  Domingo  Ramon,  who  was  in  charge  of  the  expe- 
dition, left  Saltillo  in  company  with  St.  Denis  in  February,  1716, 
the  Friars  who  were  to  accompany  him  being  the  following; 
PP.  Isidoro  Espinosa,  Gabriel  de  Vergara,  Benito  Sanchez,  Fran- 
cisco Hidalgo,  Manuel  Castellanos,  Pedro  de  Mezquia,  all  from 
Queretaro ;  and  from  Zacatecas,  Matias  Saenz,  Pedro  de  Men- 
doza,  Augustin  Patron  and  Margil.  Many  of  these  were  re- 
markable men — Hidalgo  and  Saenz  being  of  great  importance  in 
the  history  of  Texas,  Espinosa  being  famous  for  his  writings, 
and  the  youngest,  Agustin  T'atron,  a  Jaliscan.  a  man  of  great 
piety,  almost  equal  to  that  of  Margil  himself. 

The  party  reached  San  Juan  Bautista  in  April,  and  there 
Margil  fell  so  sick  w-ith  fever  that  he  received  the  last  Sacra- 
ments from  PP.  Espinosa,  who  tells  us  that  he  did  so  with  extra- 
ordinary fervor,  and  that  he  insisted  that  he  should  be  left  be- 
hind, the  other  Fathers  going  on  with  the  main  expedition. 
Happily  the  fever  abated  and  by  the  feast  of  St.  Anthony  he  was 
sufficiently  recovered  to  start  with  two  soldiers ;  thanks  to  the 
fact  that  the  tracks  of  the  main  party  were  still  ojicn.  he  caught 
up  with  the  rest  in  a  short  time. 

Margil,  with  three  companions,  spent  the  remainder  of  1716 
in  the  Mission  of  Our  Lady  of  Guadalupe  amongst  the  Nacog- 
doches, his  life  there  being  thus  described  by  Espinosa:  "They 
used  to  recite  the  Office  in  common  and  had  their  fixed  times 
for  prayer,  occupying  the  rest  of  the  time  in  manual  labor,  build- 


DIOCESE  OF  GALVESTON  1 9 

ing.  sowing He  treated  the  Indians  as  pleasantly  and 

jovially  as  if  he  had  been  born  amongst  them,  visiting  them  at  all 

hours  and  putting  up  with  their  follies in  fact,  he  nursed 

them  as  a  mother  would  her  children "     In  January  of 

the  following  year,  1717,  he  established  the  Mission  of  Our  Lady 
of  Sorrows  for  the  Ais  Indians,  but  his  design  of  erecting  an- 
other for  Yatasis  was  frustrated  by  the  heavy  floods  of  that  year. 
In  March  he  went  to  the  country  of  the  Adaes  and  there  also 
established  a  ^Mission.  Whilst  there  he  used  to  go  to  the  French 
Fort,  some  ten  leagues  away,  and  say  Mass  and  administer  the 
Sacraments.  This  seems  to  have  gratified  the  French,  for  we 
are  told  that  the  "Vicar  General  of  Mobile"  wrote  him  a  letter 
of  thanks — there  is  unhappily  no  trace  of  this  letter  in  Mobile  or 
Quebec.  Returning  to  the  Mission  of  Los  Dolores,  his  difficul- 
ties were  increased  by  the  death  of  the  lay  brother  who  was  his 
companion,  so  that  he  was  left  alone  in  the  desert  that  was  Texas. 
A  still  greater  difficulty  was  the  unfortunate  delay  in  the  arrival 
of  the  supplies  from  Mexico,  so  that  he  was  reduced  to  eating 
wild  herbs,  with  a  little  boiled  corn,  and  nuts.  This  and  other 
troubles  did  not  in  the  least  perturb  Margil,  who  writes  to  Espi- 
nosa  in  July,  1718,  saying:     "the  Lord  allows  this  delay  for  our 

good if  God  is  with  us  in  tribulation,  it  is  not  trilnilation 

but  glory "     In  August,   1718,  he  received  the  news  that 

he  had  been  appointed  Guardian  of  Zacatecas,  Init  as  the  message 
had  been  despatched  at  the  end  of  1716,  and  so  long  a  time  had 
passed  he  renounced  the  honor  and  went  on  with  his  work  in 
'i'exas.  living  mostly  at  the  Mission  of  Los  Dolores,  where  he 
workcrl  as  usual,  planting  and  sowing  in  the  fields,  weaving 
baskets  and  gathering  nuts  and  fruits.  The  food  supply  remained 
miserably  inarlequate  and  the  old  man,  in  s[)ite  of  his  hard  work, 
was  compelled  to  live  for  the  most  part  on  boiled  corn,  with  an 
occasional  dish  of  beans;  such  vegetables  as  there  were  had  1<> 
be  cooked  with  lard  made  from  geese  or  deer;  at  times  even 
these  wretched  provisions  failed,  when  we  are  told  that  he  used 
to  eat  crows.  One  may  imagine,  however,  that  Margil  was  rather 
pleased  than  otherwise  at  this  rliet,  for  wc  know  that  when  he 
returned  to  the  Xorthern  Missions  later  on  and  had  tiie  oppor- 
tunity to  feed  well  with  the  Governor,  he  avoided  his  table,  and 
further  when  he  was  in  San  Antonio  and  within  reach  of  reason- 
ably decent  meals,  we  are  told  by  Feliciana  Carbajal,  who  used 
to  cook  for  him,  that  his  custom  was  to  gather  wild  gourds, 
which  she  cooked  for  him  in  a  special  pot,  without  any  seasoning! 

When  in  spite  of  the  manifold  difficulties  the  affairs  of  the  Mis- 
sions began  to  move  a  little  and  there  were  some  conversions 
war  again  broke  out  between  the  French  and  the  Spaniards.  In 
consequence  in  June,   17 19,  the  French  Commandant  at  Natchi- 


20  IMSrOKV   OK  TIIIC 

toclies — who  one  may  liopc  was  not  St.  Denis,  there  is  at  least 
a  question — at  once  raided  the  Mission  of  San  Miguel  de  los 
Adaes.  seizing  all  that  they  could  lay  hands  on.  We  are  told  that 
whilst  they  were  catching  the  chickens,  the  Friar  in  charge 
seized  the  opportunity,  and,  under  cover  of  the  noise  and  con- 
fusion, managed  to  get  to  his  horse  and  escaped  through  the 
woods  to  Margil.  All  the  Spaniards,  with  the  exception  of  Es- 
pinosa  and  Margil,  who  remained  at  the  Mission  Purisima  Con- 
cepcion.  retired  and  even  these  two  rejoined  the  main  party  on 
July  14th.  Whilst  they  were  waiting  for  more  troops  they  lived 
in  the  best  way  they  could  in  improvised  huts,  an  altar  being 
erected  where  the  eight  priests  of  the  party  used  to  say  Mass, 
Margil  serving  all  the  other  IvTthers.  In  October,  as  the  ex- 
pected troops  did  not  arrive,  the  whole  party  went  to  San  An- 
tonio. Whilst  in  San  Antonio  the  life  of  the  Friars  was  most 
regular,  the  office  was  recited  in  common,  and  Margil,  as  usual, 
served  the  Masses  of  all  the  priests.  During  his  stay  in  San 
Antonio  Margil  founded  the  Mission  of  San  Jose. 

The  Holy  Week  of  this  year  was  celebrated  with  great  fer- 
vor in  San  Antonio ;  we  were  told  that  everyone  went  to  Holy 
Communion  on  Maundy  Thursday  and  that  Margil  preached  a 
wonderful  sermon  at  the  Man  datum. 

In  this  year  the  new^  expedition  under  the  Marc|uis  de  Aguayo 
and  Fernando  de  Almazan  was  organized  for  recovery  of  north- 
east Texas ;  it  started  from  Rexar,  according  to  Espinosa,  to- 
wards the  end  of  April,  and  its  progress  was,  thanks  to  Margil. 
more  like  a  Mission  than  a  march,  Masses  being  said  every  day, 
frequent  sermons  being  given,  and  the  "Alabado,"  so  dear  to 
Margil,  sung  every  night.  The  missions  were  all  triumphantly 
restored  and  rebuilt  and  Margil  continued  his  labors  until  he 
was  recalled  to  Zacatecas  in  1722  He  continued  his  Apostolate 
to  the  very  end,  being  taken  ill  on  his  way  to  Mexico  City, 
where  he  was  to  arrange  a  new  series  of  missions.  He  died  at 
the  age  of  seventy,  on  the  6th  of  August.  1726,  in  the  Convent 
of  San  Francsico  in  Mexico.  Shortly  before  his  death  he  said  : 
"I  had  hoped  to  die  in  the  woods  amongst  the  wild  beasts  and 
not  in  this  holy  place ;  but  let  the  will  of  God  be  done.  My  heart 
is  ready."  Thus  he  who  had  suffered  and  been  humiliated 
throughout  his  life,  he  who  used  to  call  himself  "la  misma  nada," 
even  to  his  last  breath  continued  the  marvelous  humility  that  is 
one  of  the  notes  of  his  life.  He  was  buried  in  the  Church  of 
San  Francsico,  but  the  body  was  removed  later  to  the  Cathedral. 
In  1836  his  virtues  w^ere  proclaimed  heroic  by  Pope  Gregory 
XVI,  who  thus  summarizes  the  life  of  him,  whom  we  may  call 
with  the  old  Texans,  "our''  Father  Margil:  "The  Venerable 
Antonio  Margil,  professed  Priest  of  the  Friars  Minor  Observant 


DIOCESE  OF  GALVESTON  ^I 

of  St.  Francis,  completely  fulfilled  the  command  of  the  Divine 
Master,  when  He  told  His  Disciples,  'Go  into  all  the  world, 
preach  the  Gospel  and  teach  all  nations.'  For  no  sooner  had  he 
ended  his  novitiate  than  he  occupied  himself  wholly  in  spreading- 
the  Word  of  God.  Being  soon  called  to  the  Missions  in  the 
Indies,  he  gladly  received  the  Apostolic  Ministry  and  leaving  his 
country,  crossed  the  ocean.  In  the  New  World  he  was  not  con- 
tent to  labor  only  in  known  regions,  but  penetrating  to  the  fur- 
thest and  most  inacessible  parts,  he  visited  unfriendly  nations, 
savage  tribes,  speaking  unknown  tongues,  barbarous  in  their  cruel- 
ty, overwhelmed  in  the  darkness  of  ignorance,  given  over  to 
witchcraft  and  superstitions,  idolaters,  everywhere  preaching 
Christ,  the  true  God,  and  travailing  to  teach  them  the  commands 
of  the  Gospel  and  a  more  civilized  manner  of  life.  Trusting  in 
God,  the  Venerable  Antonio  daily  undertook  the  most  arduous 
journeys,  without  scrip  or  purse  or  shoes;  patiently  suffering 
hunger  and  thirst  and  all  manner  of  hardships;  fearlessly  endur- 
ing insults,  bonds,  arrows,  the  stake,  oftimes  the  danger  of 
death,  and  thirsting  after  martyrdom,  if  only  he  might  drag 
these  wretched  souls  from  the  clutches  of  the  devil  and  make 
them  subject  to  Christ.  Strengthened  by  the  help  of  heaven, 
he  brought  many  thousands  of  men  ;  aforetime  living  like  wild 
beasts,  to  religion  and  baptized  them  ;  destroyed  the  worship  of 
false  Gods,  did  away  with  suj)erstitions,  broke  up  idols,  and 
built  Chapels,  Mission  Houses  and  Colleges  for  the  T'ropagation 
of  the  Faith  in  the  remotest  regions." 

The  biographies  of  the  Venerable  Servant  of  God  are  full  of 
the  accounts  of  miracles  which  he  is  said  to  have  performed,  but 
very  few,  if  any,  relate  to  the  time  that  he  spent  in  Texas.  It 
may  thcrcf(jre  be  of  interest  to  relate  a  few  which  are  said  to 
have  hajjpened  during  this  period  and  which  appear  to  have  some 
authority,  at  least  the  writer  found  tlnin  in  reliable  documents. 

On  one  occasion  the  X'cncraljle  I'ather  was  summoned  to 
the  house  of  an  Inrlian  called  'I'arruca,  who  lived  near  the  Adaes 
Mission,  whf)  was  sick.  'J"he  soldier  who  tells  the  story  savs  that 
he  saw  Hie  ]'"athcr  go  and  return,  that  Tarruca  lived  on  the  far 
side  of  an  arroyo,  which  was  in  flood,  that  there  was  no  mean-; 
of  crossing,  that  the  two  soldiers  who  accompanied  llic  bather 
said  that  he  crossed  the  arroyo  without  getting  wd,  and  that 
this  was  the  romndii  lalk  amongst  ibc  Indians  and  members  of 
*he  garrison. 

In  the  year  1721  some  of  the  buildings  caught  fire  and,  as  all  the 
roofs  were  of  tliatch,  there  was  great  fear  thai  the  whole  I'residio 
would  be  burtied.  !'.  (iuerra  implored  the  l'"ather  to  stop  tiie 
fire,  but  he  repliefl.  "  I'rother,  what  have  we  to  do  with  it,  if 
it  is  the  will  of  God?"     P.  Guerra  finally  induced  the  Father  to 


22  II  ISl'dUV   OK  Till-: 

act  and  he  began  to  pray.  No  sooner  had  he  done  so  than  the 
fire  stopped,  only  the  wood  of  the  houses  remaining  on  fire — the 
flames  not  rcaohini;  the  other  l)iiildings,  which  were  only  a  few 
feet  away. 

On  another  occasion  he  was  preaching  and  had  candles  in 
his  hand  to  illuminate  the  Crucifix ;  these  set  fire  to  the  thatched 
roof  of  the  Chapel  and  a  considerable  area  (more  than  a  vara) 
was  burning;  the  Governor  called  his  attention  to  the  danger  and 
he  extinguished  the  fire  by  blowing  at  it. 

In  1721  he  was  on  his  way  to  the  French  Fort  in  the  month 
of  June  with  a  body  of  soldiers  commanded  by  Don  Diego  Boey 
Quintano;  at  midday  they  reached  a  dry  arroyo  and  the  Com- 
mander told  Margil  that  though  there  was  no  water  they  would 
stop  there  for  the  noon  meal.  The  Venerable  Father  told  him 
to  go  on  a  little  further  and  he  would  find  water;  they  did  so 
and  found  a  water-hole  with  enough  water  for  all,  including  the 
horses.  This  hole  was  at  the  edge  of  the  road  and  no  one  had 
seen  it  before.  The  next  day  they  came  back  the  same  way  and 
they  saw  no  trace  of  the  hole,  and  there  was  no  sign  that  there 
had  been  rain  for  a  long  time. 

The  writer  protests  that  in  all  that  has  been  said  in  the  above 
article  he  submits  entirely  to  the  relative  Decrees  of  Urban  VTTl. 


CHAPTER  I\'. 


SAN   JACINTO'S   GLORIOUS   FIELD. 

The  battle  of  San  Jacinto  changed  the  civihzation  of  a  con- 
tinent. If  the  proud  spirit  of  tlie  I'exas  colonists  had  been  broken 
by  defeat,  Spanish  would  now  be  the  tongue  of  that  great  terri- 
tory west  of  the  Mississippi.  We  present  a  short  sketch  of 
General  Sidney  Sherman  written  by  Col.  A.  M.  Hobbey,  and 
published  in  the  Galveston  News  under  date  of  August  2,  1872. 

LIFE  AND  TIMES  OF  GENERAL  SIDNEY  SHERMAN. 

This  disinguished  soldier  of  the  Texas  revolution  died  at  his 
residence  in  this  city,  early  last  night,  in  the  68th  year  of  his  age. 
He  displayed  great  gallantry,  and  the  splendid  ([ualities  of  a 
patriot  in  the  campaigns  of  1836,  and  bore  a  conspicuous  part  in 
the  decisive  battle  of  San  Jacinto,  which  established  forever  the 
independence  of  the  struggling  Republic. 

If  distinguished  for  ardent  and  daring  spirit  in  the  early  his- 
tory of  the  country  and  for  unselfish  anrljition  and  sincere  de- 
votion to  the  general  weal,  he  was  not  less  pre-eminently  the 
object  of  historic  interest  in  being  the  last  surviving  field  officer 
that  participated  in  the  closing  battle  of  the  war. 

The  presidents,  vice-presidents,  mid  the  members  of  their 
respective  cabinets,  together  with  ihc  coitunandcr-in-i-hicf  and 
the  general  officers  of  the  Texas  army,  had  been  borne  l)y  loving 
hands  to  their  final  resting  place,  before  the  brave  and  honest 
heart  of  Sherman  was  stilled  by  the  hand  of  death,  h'or  years 
he  had  lingered  alone  on  the  battlefields  of  Texas,  partly  made 
famous  by  his  intrepidity  and  valor,  resigned  and  patient,  await- 
ing the  sunnnons  to  join  the  fearless  brother  spirits  of  the  rcvo- 
hition,  who  have  long  ago  laid  aside  the  wt'apons  of  war  and 
passed  into  the  Kingdom  of  Peace. 

The  la.st  few  years  (^f  Sherman's  life  were  s|K'nl  in  lliis  city. 
and  like  most  of  the  surviving  heroes  of  the  Rei)ublic,  he  ha.i 
long  withdrawn  from  the  public  gaze.  Personally,  they  are  al- 
most entire  strangers  tf)  the  general i(  mi  that  has  a])peare(l  since 
their  dav  of  service  ancf  distinction.  I'.ut  their  deeds  are  not  for- 
gotten, and  fleath  revives  the  memory  of  their  exploits,  and  re- 
.stores  them  to  an  exalted  i)la(-e  in  the  gratitude  and  affection  of 
their  countrymen. 


24  "  isrouv  o\'  Till-: 

The  subject  of  this  skctcli  was  bmii  in  Marlborough,  Massa- 
chusetts. His  ancestors  were  from  Wales,  and  settled  in  Am- 
erica in  1631.  He  was  descended  from  the  Hon.  Roger  Sherman, 
long;  the  Nestor  of  the  y\merican  Congress,  and  is  the  last  male 
member  of  the  Texas  family  of  that  ancient  and  widely-extended 
name.  His  only  brother,  Dana  Sherman,  died  on  the  San  Jacinto 
bay  in  1839.  His  wife  dying  the  same  day,  they  were  consigned 
to  tiie  same  grave.  The  only  son  of  General  Sherman,  a  lieu- 
tenant in  the  Confederate  army,  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Gal- 
veston, at  his  gun  in  the  front,  on  the  first  of  January,  1863. 

The  early  life  of  General  Sherman  was  devoted  to  mercantile 
pursuits.  In  1831  he  moved  to  Cincinnati,  thence  to  Newport, 
Kentucky.  Individually,  he  was  the  first  to  manufacture  sheet 
lead  west  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains,  and  was  one  of  an  asso- 
ciation that  first  put  into  successful  operation  an  establishment 
for  the  manufacture  of  bagging  for  cotton  by  machinery.  While 
engaged  in  the  active  prosecution  of  this  business,  the  tidings 
of  a  contest  between  the  hardy  pioneers  of  Texas  and  the  troops 
of  Mexico  were  heralded  throughout  the  United  States.  The 
generous  spirit  of  Sherman  kindled  with  enthusiasm,  and  he 
zealously  espoused  a  cause  which,  contemplated  under  the  most 
favorable  aspect,  might  well  have  intimidated  the  boldest  heart. 
The  extraordinary  vigor  displayed  by  the  Mexican  Dictator, 
Santa  Anna,  in  his  warlike  career,  and  the  military  strength  at 
his  command,  gave  Texas  little  reason  to  hope  for  successful 
resistance,  and  still  less  to  expect  mercy,  if  defeated.  Notwith- 
standing the  few  inducements  offered,  and  the  little  encourage- 
ment to  he  derived  from  a  calm  survey  of  the  relative  strength 
and  resources  of  the  combatants,  many  undaunted  spirits  volun- 
teered, generously  giving  their  services  and  fortunes  to  a  cause 
environed  with  dangers,  which  if  unsuccessful,  would  terminate 
in  imprisonment  or  death. 

By  a  happy  coincidence  General  Sherman  commanded  at  the 
time  a  volunteer  company,  by  commission  from  the  Governor  of 
Kentucky,  which  afforded  him  facilities  for  raising  troops  for 
the  service  of  Texas.  He  organized  a  company  of  fifty  men, 
required  each  volunteer  to  sign  stringent  articles  of  subordination 
before  they  could  be  enrolled.  Some  flinched  from  the  energy 
and  rigidity  of  the  requirements,  while  those  who  signed  the 
military  compact  discerned  in  it  evidences  which  gave  promise 
of  a  sagacious  and  able  commander.  Amid  the  snows  of  winter 
he  established  a  regular  camp,  and  enforced  discipline  as  strict 
as  if  in  the  face  of  the  enemy. 

On  the  last  day  of  December,  1835,  he  embarked  on  a  steamer 
from  Cincinnati.  His  men  were  well  armed,  handsomely  uni- 
formed, and  with  a  full  supply  of  munition  and  provisions.     On 


DIOCESE   OF   GALVESTON  25 

the  day  of  departure,  notwithstanding-  a  violent  snowstorm,  the 
United  States  troops  at  Newport  harracks  turned  out,  and  thou- 
sands of  the  citizens,  of  all  ages  and  both  sexes,  lined  the  river 
banks,  to  honor  the  occasion,  and  manifest  their  sympathy  in 
the  heroic  enterprise  by  enthusiastic  and  repeated  cheers.  Amid 
tears  and  touching  farewells,  waving  flags  and  beating  drums, 
the  bow  of  the  decorated  vessel  was  turned  toward  the  setting 
sun  and  passed  down  the  great  river  with  a  company  of  brave 
volunteers,  whose  subsequent  trials  and  triumphs  form  a  splendid 
chapter  in  the  proud  history  of  our  state. 

Sherman  and  his  company  debarked  at  Natchitoches,  Louisi- 
ana, and  marched  at  once  to  Nacogdoches,  in  Texas,  and  thence 
to  Washington,  on  the  Brazos.  There  he  found  all  confusion. 
The  governor  and  lieutenant-governor  were  at  deadly  feud ;  the 
convention  was  not  assembled ;  the  brave  Travis  and  his  heroic 
band  surrounded  by  an  overwhelming  force,  called  for  aid  from 
the  beleaguered  walls  of  the  Alamo.  The  people  were  enthusi- 
astic and  determined,  hut  without  arms  or  organization,  and  no 
one  present  to  instruct  or  lead  them.  Sherman  paraded  his 
company,  and  called  upon  the  citizens  to  volunteer  and  march 
on  the  following  day  to  the  relief  of  the  Alamo,  after  which 
service  he  declared  his  intention  to  return  with  his  company  to 
the  United  States,  if  the  independence  of  Texas  was  not  speedily 
declared  by  the  convention  then  about  to  assemble. 

On  arriving  at  Gonzales,  he  found  about  two  hundred  citizen 
volunteers — a  force  totally  insufficient  to  justify  an  atteiupt  to 
break  through  the  besieging  Mexican  forces,  some  seven  thousand 
strong.  Fourteen  days  were  consumed  in  concentrating  men  and 
supplies,  when  General  Houston  arrived  and  assumed  conunand. 
On  the  ensuing  day  the  first  regiment  of  Texas  volunteers  was 
organized  and  Sherman  nominated  for  the  colonelcy;  this  he 
declined  in  favor  of  CJcncral  Ilurleson,  an  old  citizen  and  tried 
warrior.  Sherman  was  elected  lieutenant-colonel.  On  the  even- 
ing of  the  same  day  intelligence  was  received  that  the  Alamo  hafi 
fallen,  and  its  brave  defenders  had  been  indiscriminately  slaught- 
ered. IIow^  truly  grand  and  heroic  that  defen.se  had  been,  is 
best  told  in  that  immortal  sentence  inscribed  on  the  anhilr.ive 
of  the  momunent  constructed  of  ihe  stones  stained  by  liic  blood 
of  heroes,  which  stands  undci  the  lofty  portico  <>f  llie  State 
Capitol,  that 

"I  licniiofyylac    luul    ils    inrsscn^rt'   of   drfrnt.    but    tlic 
Alamo  had  none.''' 

The  army  retreated  to  the  I'.ra/os.  where  the  second  regiment 
was  organized,  and  Sherman  was  elected  to  conunand  it.  On 
the  Colorado,  being  detached  from  the  main  body  of  the  army, 


26  HISTORY  OF  THE 

he  cndeaN'ored  to  obtain  pcnuissioii  to  attack  General  Sesma, 
who  was  camped  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  river,  on  the  spot 
where  the  town  of  Columbus  now  stands,  and  thus  save  Fannin 
and  his  comrades  from  inglorious  slauohter.  Sherman  fell  back 
with  the  retreating  army,  which  was  determined  to  make  a  last 
stand  at  the  first  strategic  point  that  should  be  reached  on  the 
line  of  march. 

During  the  retreat,  Sherman  displayed  all  the  soldierly  quali- 
ties which,  at  such  a  crisis,  were  necessary  to  promote  enthusi- 
asm, and  preserve  the  army  from  demoralization.  He  was  equal 
to  every  emergency.  On  the  retreat  from  the  Colorado  he  was 
ordered  to  put  the  army  in  marching  order,  and,  by  direction 
of  the  commander-in-chief,  personally  superintended  the  danger- 
ous crossing  of  the  Brazos.  On  the  20th  of  April,  1836,  he  le'i 
a  squadron  of  cavalry  in  an  attack  upon  a  detachment  of  the 
enemy,  that  occupied  a  position  between  the  hostile  camps. 

In  the  battle  of  the  21st  he  commanded  the  extreme  left  of 
the  Texas  line,  and  was  the  first  to  strike  the  enemy,  shouting 
at  the  critical  instant,  the  talismanic  battle  cry  of  "Remember 
Goliad  and  the  Alamo,"  which  was  prolonged  in  fierce  enthusi- 
asm from  left  to  right  by  the  advancing  line.  It  was  a  day  of 
vengeance  and  retribution.  The  victory  was  overwhelming  and 
complete,  and  in  its  consummation  Sherman  acted  a  conspicuous 
and  splendid  part.  But  when  the  perilous  battle  was  over,  he 
turned  from  the  triumph  to  stay  the  tide  of  violence  and  slaugh- 
ter, which,  however  righteously  it  may  have  overtaken  the  en- 
emy, he  mercifully  endeavored  to  prevent.  Happily  for  human- 
ity, it  not  unfrequently  occurs  that  he  who  leads  the  forlorn 
hope  with  incomparable  courage  and  energy,  carries  the  out- 
works and  enters  the  breach,  braving  the  terrors  of  explosion, 
turns  from  the  hazardous  enterprise  when  the  victory  is  com- 
plete, unfurls  the  banner  of  mercy,  and  extends  a  generous  and 
beneficent  protection  to  the  vanquished.  Sherman  possessed 
boldness  and  valor  in  the  crisis  of  danger,  and  made  humane  and 
vigorous  efforts  to  restrain  excesses  in  the  hour  of  triumph.  If 
he  felt  that  violence  was  necessary  in  war,  mercy  and  moderation 
were  not  less  wise  and  essential  in  establishing  an  enduring- 
peace. 

After  remaining  several  months  with  the  army  in  the  West, 
and  finding  that  the  enemy  did  not  return,  he  tendered  his  resig- 
nation, which  President  Burnet  refused  to  accept,  but  gave  him 
a  commission  as  colonel  in  the  regular  service,  with  orders  to 
enlist  his  men  in  the  United  States.  When  about  to  leave  his 
companions  in  arms,  the  secretary  of  war  presented  him  with 
the  stand  of  colors  which  he  had  brought  to  the  country,  accom- 
panied with  the  following  communication : 


DIOCESE   OF   GALVESTON  27 

REPUBLIC  OF  TEXAS 
War  Departiiioit 

August  6,   1837. 

This  stand  of  colors,  presented  by  the  ladies  of  Newport, 
Kentucky,  to  Captain  Sidney  Sherman,  is  the  same  which  tri- 
umphantly waved  on  the  memorable  battle  field  of  San  Jacinto ; 
and  is  by  this  government  presented  to  the  lady  of  Colonel  Sid- 
ney Sherman,  as  a  testimonial  of  his  gallant  conduct  on  that 
occasion. 

A.  SOMMERVILLE, 

Secretary  of  War. 
Approved : 
DA\'ID  G.  BURNET,  President. 

Colonel  Sherman's  health  was  much  impaired  by  exposure 
and  fatigue  in  the  army,  and  before  reaching  Kentucky  he  was 
seriously  ill  for  many  weeks.  Nothwithstanding  his  condition, 
he  succeeded  in  sending  out  some  troops  and  a  quantity  of  cloth- 
ing for  those  in  the  field,  who  were  extremely  destitute. 

In  January,  1838,  he  returned  to  Texas  with  his  family,  and 
settled  upon  San  Jacinto  Bay.  In  1842  he  was  elected  as  a  repre- 
sentative to  Congress  from  Harris  County,  and  was  appointed 
chairman  of  the  military  committee.  He  introduced  a  bill  pro- 
viding for  the  election  oi  a  major  general  of  militia,  and  the 
protection  of  the  frontier.  The  bill  was  vetoed  by  Presideni 
Houston,  but  became  a  law  by  the  vote  of  a  constitutional  ma- 
jority in  both  Houses  of  Congress.  General  Rusk  was  the  first 
elected  to  that  position.  General  Sherman  succeeded  him  at  the 
next  election  by  the  pcjpular  vote,  which  position  he  held  unli! 
the  annexation  of  Texas  to  the  United  States. 

On  his  retirement  from  military  service.  Sherman  lost  none 
of  the  energies  which  had  characterized  him  in  the  field,  but 
displayed  in  the  occupations  of  private  life  useful  enterprise; 
creative  talents  of  a  valuable  order. 

In  1846  he  conceived  the  idea  of  rebuilding  the  town  of  Ilar- 
risburg,  which  had  been  destroyed  by  Santa  Ainia  in  1836. 
With  this  view  he  purchased  a  large  interest  in  the  town  site, 
and  4000  acres  of  land  adjoining  it.  He  then  i)rocee(le<l  to  Bos- 
ton, where  he  enlisted  capitalists  and  organized  a  company  to 
build  a  railroad  from  Harrisburg  westward.  The  difficulties  to 
contend  with  were  neither  few  nor  small.  Ilic  country  was  new 
and  but  imperfectly  known  abroad ;  the  population  and  agricultural 
productions  were  inconsiderable,  and  labor  of  every  character 
difficult  to  obtain.  Vet  his  unabated  perseverence  removed  ob- 
stacles and  success  finally  crowned  the  enterprises:  the  rebuild- 


28  HISTORY  OF  THE 

iiii;-  1)1  llio  town  and  the  (.■onslnKiidii  of  ihc  first  railroad  iir 
Texas. 

The  shrill  whistle  of  the  "Cleneral  Sherman"  was  the  first 
glad  sound  of  the  locomotive  that  l)roke  upon  the  solitude  of 
Texas  forests,  and  roused  to  new  life  the  slumbering  energies 
of  her  hardy  people.  This  locomotive  was  the  first  that  appeared 
west  of  the  Sabine,  and  the  second  west  of  the  Mississippi — one 
at  St.  Louis  introduced  but  a  few  months  before.  Thus  the 
name  of  Sherman  will  not  only  be  remembered  as  a  chivalrous 
soldier,  whose  best  years  were  spent  in  the  service  of  Texas,  but 
as  the  father  of  a  railroad  system,  which  has  conferred  inestim- 
able blessings  upon  the  people,  but  whose  future  benefits  will  be 
more  profoundly  appreciated  when  our  population  shall  be  quad- 
rupled and  the  whole  area  of  our  extensive  territory  traversed 
by  a  net-work  of  railways. 

In  chronicling  the  events  of  the  past  few  years  of  his  life, 
it  is  but  a  record  of  successive  misfortunes.  In  1853  he  lost  a 
valuable  sawmill  by  fire.  Subsequently  his  dwelling  in  Harns- 
burg  was  burned,  then  one  of  the  finest  buildings  in  the  state. 
Being  homeless,  he  sent  his  family  to  Kentucky,  and  removed 
to  the  railroad  office,  which  was  shortly  afterwards  consumed 
by  fire.  His  remaining  possessions  and  valuable  papers,  which 
had  been  accumulating  for  thirty  years,  were  destroyed.  They 
were  not  only  imi)ortant  to  himself,  but  as  relating  to  public 
affairs,  would  have  been  of  great  value  to  the  future  historian 
of  our  country. 

Like  most  soldiers  and  statesmen  who  participated  in  the 
early  struggles  of  the  country,  he  derived  little  material  benefit 
from  its  redemption. 

If  we  turn  from  the  public  to  the  private  life  of  Sherman, 
we  find  that  the  spirit  so  restless  and  daring  in  the  field,  was 
indulgent  and  affectionate  at  home.  Between  himself  and  mem- 
bers of  his  family  existed  a  devotion  singularly  close  and  tender, 
and  in  the  long  years  of  repose  that  followed  an  active  and  event- 
ful life,  he  found  all  the  domestic  endearments  that  filial  affec- 
tion and  gratitude  could  ])estow. 

In  1830  he  married  Miss  Cox,  of  Kentucky,  who  was  dis- 
tinguished for  great  moral  worth,  intellectual  accomplishments 
and  personal  beauty.  His  wife  and  a  son  and  a  daughter  have 
preceded  him,  but  he  had  the  gratification  of  .seeing  his  four 
remaining  daughters  grow  into  womanhood  and  become  honor- 
able members  of  .society.  Assiduous  and  devoted,  they  watched 
the  day  and  night  by  his  bedside,  alleviated  his  sufferings,  cheered 
him  by  their  pre.sence,  and  received  his  last  blessing  and  farewell. 

I^t  Texans  follow,  as  a  last  mark  of  respect,  this  patriot  to 
his  grave,  and  moisten,  as  they  deserve  to  be,  the  ashes  of  glory 
with  the  sweet  tears  of  gratitude.     By  an  hi.storical   propriety, 


DIOCESE   OF   GALVESTON  29 

the  remains  of  General  Shcrnian  slumld  rest  in  the  same  ceme- 
tery by  the  side  of  the  first  and  last  president  of  the  Republic 
of  Texas.  They  are  inseparably  connected  in  the  inheritance  of 
a  common  glory ;  and  they  had  been  friends  in  early  life,  closely 
bound  together  by  public  and  private  ties.  The  same  grand  aims 
had  inspired  their  souls  to  hazard  life  and  fortune  in  the  cause 
of  independence;  to  look  down  with  disdain  on  temptations, 
aggrandizement  and  danger;  and  to  perform  the  unselfish  office 
of  laboring  zealously  for  the  pulMic  good.  The  friendships  which 
had  existed  in  full  vigor  through  the  storms  of  revolution,  re- 
splendent with  the  virtues  of  manhood  and  courage,  have  been 
dissolved  only  by  the  hands  of  death.  Let  the  dust  of  our  illus- 
trious pioneers  and  statesmen  mingle  with  the  dust  of  our  illus- 
trious soldiers.  Together  they  endured  the  vicissitudes  and  tur- 
moil of  time ;  together  let  them  enjoy  the  repose  of  eternity. 

General  Sherman  was  a  member  of  St.  Mary's  Cathedral 
Parish  and  was  buried  from  the  Cathedral  August  3.  1872, 
P'ather  Chambodut  celebrating  the  Mass. 

Closely  associated  with  Bishops  Timon  and  Odin  in  the 
building  of  the  first  church  of  Galveston  was  Dr.  N.  D.  Labadie, 
a  sketch  of  whose  life  we  present  from  the  Texas  Almanac.  Dr. 
I.abadie  was  also  a  veteran  of  San  b'l'^'iiito. 


Memoirs  ptiblislicil  in  Tcwus  .lliiiaiiac,  1868. 

NICHOLAS  W.  LAMADIF,.  M.  D.. 
Galveston. 

Nicholas  D.  Laltadie  was  burn  at  Windsor,  Can.-nla  West, 
December  3,  1802.  Mis  i)arcnts  were  Antone  Louis  and  Mrs. 
Charlotte  \',.  Labadie.  Mis  mother  was  the  daughter  of  Tierrc 
and  Charlotte  Chapaton  and  before  hvv  marriage  to  Mr.  Labadie, 
the  widow  of  Lieut.  I^ouis  Kaume. 

Antone  Louis  Labadie  was  three  times  married  and  l!ie 
father  of  thirty-three  (  Iiibhcu,  the  xonngest  of  whnm  was  the 
subject  of  this  memoir. 

Francis  Labadie.  an  ancestor  of  Dr.  Laljadie.  was  born  in 
the  diocese  of  Xanites,  l''ranre,  in  1644,  and  when  a  young  man 
moved  to  Canada,  where  lie  married  and  permanently  settled. 
Some  of  his  descendants  (among  them  the  representatives  from 
whom  Dr.  Labadie  is  innnediately  descended)  returned  to 
France. 

An  old  chronicle.  si)eaking  of  I'ierre  I  )eM-(.inpte'>  Labadie. 
grandfather,  and  Antone  Louis  Labadie,  father  of  Dr.  Labadie. 
says  they  "settled  on  the  western  frontier  at  any  early  date  and, 


30  HISTORY  OF  THE 

sul)scc|iicntly.  in  (.•oini)any  with  several  nu-inhcrs  of  their  family, 
moved  to  Detroit,  after  retiring  from  military  service,  where 
they  spent  the  remainder  of  llicir  lives." 

Dr.  Labadie  was  reared  on  the  frontier  in  Canada  West ; 
emigrated  to  Missouri  when  twenty-one  years  of  age;  studied  for 
the  Catholic  priesthood  at  an  institute  at  l')arrens,  Perry  County, 
Mo.,  from  1824  to  1828;  for  some  cause  abandoned  his  intention 
to  take  holy  orders.  (He  ever  remained  a  devout  communicant 
of  the  Mother  Church),  and  abonl  ihc  year  1829  went  to  St. 
Louis,  where  he  clerked  in  a  store,  read  medicine,  and  secured 
his  degree  of  M.  ^^. ;  went  to  Fort  Jessup,  Louisiana,  in  1830 
and  there  divided  his  time  between  clerking  in  a  store  and  attend- 
ing to  professional  "calls"  among  the  soldiers  and  civilians  resi- 
dent at  the  post ;  made  a  prospecting  trip  to  Nacogdoches  and 
thence  to  San  Felipe,  in  Austin's  colony,  where  he  met  Col.  Sam'! 
L.  Williams,  who  went  with  him  to  Brazoria  and  other  points 
of  interest ;  returned  to  Louisiana,  and  a  month  later  set  sail  from 
New  Orleans  with  a  stock  of  medicines  aboard  the  schooner 
Martha,  bound  for  Anahuac,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Trinity ;  on 
reaching  his  destination  was  made  post-surgeon  by  Col.  Brad- 
burn,  who  commanded  the  Mexican  garrison  (300  men)  at 
Anahuac;  also  opened  a  store  in  co-partnership  with  Mr.  Wilcox, 
and  engaged  in  the  general  practice  of  his  profession  ;  not  long 
after  taking  up  his  residence  in  the  town,  met  and  married  Miss 
Mary  Norment  (born  in  Mississippi),  sister  of  Thomas  Nor- 
ment  (afterwards  a  soldier  at  San  Jacinto)  ;  joined  the  Texa.« 
patriot  army  March  11,  1836,  as  a  soldier  in  Capt.  Wm.  M. 
Logan's  company,  2nd  Regiment  of  A'olunteers,  on  its  organiza- 
tion at  Liberty,  and  with  the  command  reported  to  General  Hous- 
ton at  Benson's  on  the  Colorado  on  the  20th  of  the  same  month  ; 
was  on  a  scout  with  a  detail  under  Captain  Karnes  when  the 
retreat  to  San  Felipe  began  ;  rejoined  the  army  at  Groce's  and 
was  there,  April  6.  made  surgeon  of  the  ist  Regiment  of  the 
Regulars  and  placed  in  charge  of  the  medicine  chest  by  General 
Houston  ;  fought  in  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto  as  a  volunteer  in 
Captain  Logan's  company,  part  of  the  left  wing,  commanded  by 
Gen.  Sidney  Sherman ;  was  ordered  some  days  after  the  battle 
to  report  to  General  Rusk  at  Galveston  ;  stopped  on  the  way  at 
Anahuac  to  see  his  family ;  found  that  during  his  absence  one 
of  his  houses  had  been  burned  and  the  other  pillaged,  that  his 
little  son  had  died,  and  that  his  wife  and  remaining  children 
were  without  the  necessaries  of  life ;  was  himself  taken  danger- 
ously sick  and,  upon  recovery,  found  that  he  had  become  totally 
deaf  (his  hearing  was  never  restored)  ;  lived  for  a  short  time  on 
Lake  Charlotte,  in  what  is  now  Chambers  County,  and  in  1837 
moved  to  Galveston,  where  he  afterwards  resided  until  the  time 
of  his  death,  March  13,  1867. 


DIOCESE   OF   GALVESTON  3 1 

He  was  one  of  the  first  actual  residents  of  the  city  and  one 
of  the  first  to  engage  in  business  there,  opening  a  drug  store 
at  the  corner  of  Twenty-second  and  Market  Streets,  where  the 
Alvey  building  now  stands. 

The  yellow  fever  epidemic  took  away  his  wife  and  left  three 
little  girls,  the  eldest  six  years  and  the  youngest  a  babe  of  five 
months.  During  that  and  subsequent  visitations,  up  to  and  in- 
cluding the  last,  that  of  1867,  he  stood  bravely  at  his  post,  "prov- 
ing himself,"  as  a  writer  well  says,  "worthy  of  the  title  bestowed 
on  St.  Luke — 'Beloved  Physician'." 

December  9.  1840,  he  married  Mrs.  Agnes  Rivera,  then  living 
at  Galveston,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Mrs.  Jennet  Harknes:^. 
Only  one  child  was  born  of  this  union,  Joseph.  His  second  wife 
died  in  1843.  He  afterwards  married  a  third  time,  but  without 
issue.  The  following  children,  born  of  his  first  marriage,  lived 
to  maturity :  Sarah,  wife  of  Solomon  Wallis ;  Charlotte  L.,  and 
Cecelia. 

Dr.  Labadie  established  a  line  of  sailing  vessels  that  ran  in 
early  days  between  Pensacola,  Florida,  and  Galveston,  and 
brought  much  of  the  lumber  used  in  building  the  first  business 
houses  and  residences  on  the  island  ;  built  the  wharf  at  the  end 
of  Twenty-second  Street  that  still  bears  his  name;  built  the  first 
marine  ways;  purchased  lots  in  the  new  town  and  erected  sub- 
stantial buildings;  contributed  liberally  to  the  construction  of  the 
first  Catholic  Church  in  the  city;  was  one  of  the  first  to  sub- 
scribe to  the  building  of  the  Charity  Hospital,  erected  after  the 
war  between  the  States,  and  in  every  way  that  lay  in  his  power 
contributed  to  the  welfare  and  building  up  of  the  city. 

During  the  war  (being  too  old  for  active  field  dut\)  lie  was 
appointed  a  member  of  the  medical  examining  board  of  the 
ist  Brigade,  Texas  state  troops,  and  served  as  such  until  the 
close  of  hostilities. 

A  few  years  before  his  death  Dr.  I,al);i<lii'  published  the  fol- 
lowing account  of  Santa  Anna's  being  brought  into  the  Texas 
camp  and  the  interview  with  General  Houston;  it  differs  ma- 
terially from  that  so  long  given  currency  by  writers  of  Texas 
history  : 

"While  I  was  engaged  in  attending  the  wounded  Mexican 
prisoners,  a  Mr.  Sylvester  rode  up  to  the  prison-scpiarc  with  a 
prisoner,  who  refused  to  enter.  I  was  called  upon  to  interpret, 
as  neither  the  .sentinel  nor  Mr.  Sylvester  could  speak  Spanish. 
I  told  him  that  this  was  the  place  where  all  prisoners  were  kept. 
He  replied,  T  want  to  sec  General  Houston.  Is  he  in  camp?" 
'Yes,'  I  replied,  'Mr.  Sylvester,  take  this  man  to  yonder  oak  tree. 
wHiere  General  Houston  lies.'  As  they  were  departing,  the. 
prisoner   whose   wounds   I   was  dressing,  a   Mexican   lieutenant, 


32  insroKY  of  the 

whispcreil  to  nie.  "Es  ol  presidcntc'  (He  is  the  president).  1 
at  once  folded  my  instruments  and  followed  after  them,  and  met 
Colonel  Hockley  calling  me  to  come  quickly,  as  I  was  wanted. 
I  found  General  Houston  lying  on  his  back  on  the  ground  under 
the  oak  tree  (he  was  wounded)  ;  and  on  his  left  the  prisoner  was 
sitting  on  a  chest.  He  politely  returned  my  salute,  and  I  said  to 
him  in  Spanish,  pointing:  'This  is  General  Houston.  Do  you 
want  anything  of  him?'  He  replied,  'Tell  General  Houston  that 
General  Santa  Anna  stands  before  him  a  prisoner.'  General 
Houston,  hearing  this  interpreted,  appeared  much  surprised  and 
turning  on  his  left  side,  said :  'General  Santa  Anna,  in  what 
condition  do  you  surrender  yourself?'  'As  a  prisoner  of  war,' 
said  he,  and  continuing:  'Whilst  I  was  in  the  camino  royal — 
the  iniblic  highway — I  met  two  of  your  soldiers,  to  whom  I  sur- 
rendered myself  a  prisoner  of  war.'  'Well,'  said  Houston,  'tell 
Santa  Anna  that,  so  long  as  he  shall  remain  in  the  boundaries  I 
shall  allot  him,  I  will  be  responsible  for  his  life.'  Upon  hearing 
this,  Santa  Anna's  countenance  brightened.  He  said :  'Tell 
General  Houston  I  am  tired  of  blood  and  war  and  have  seen 
enough  of  this  country  to  know  that  the  two  people  cannot  live 
under  the  same  laws,  and  I  am  willing  to  treat  with  him  as  to 
the  boundaries  of  the  two  countries.'  In  reply  General  Houston 
said :  'Tell  him  that  T  cannot  treat  with  him.  but  that  the  Cab- 
inet that  is  in  Galveston  will  make  a  treaty  with  him.'  Here  the 
crowd  pressing  against  us,  interferred  with  the  conversation 
and  the  guard'  had  to  force  them  back.  Colonel  Hockley  appear- 
ing with  young  Zavala  to  serve  as  interpreter,  I  returned  to  my 
wounded,  who  had  been  taken  across  the  bayou  to  the  Zavala 
place,  which  was  thereafter  used  as  a  hospital." 

As  we  learn  from  the  letter  written  by  the  Propaganda  to 
Bishop  Blanc,  President  Sam  Houston  was  favorably  disposed  to 
the  Catholic  Church,  and  when  Father  Timon  visited  Austin  in 
1840  as  Vice-Apostolic  of  Texas  he  carried  a  letter  from  Cardinal 
Fransoni  to  President  Mirabcau  B.  Lamar  which  was  accepted  as 
the  recognition  by  the  Pope  of  the  independence  of  Texas. 

General  Sam  Ilouston  was  always  favorably  disposed  to  the 
Catholic  Church  and  is  traditionally  credited  with  having  been 
baptized.  The  deposit  of  faith  was  not  lost,  for  two  of  his 
grandchildren  are  most  devout  communicants  at  our  Seminary 
Chapel. 


BISHOP  JOHN  TIMON,  C.  M. 

Prefect- Apojtolic  of  Texas,   1840 


CHAPTER  V. 


THE  AWAKENING  BY  THE  LAZARISTS. 

The  last  Franciscan  had  departed  from  the  Missions  of  East 
Texas,  and  the  people  met  at  Nacogdoches  under  the  guidance 
of  an  old  beadle  for  the  recitation  of  prayers  and  the  teaching 
of  Catechism.  Texas  had  severed  the  civil  bonds  of  Mexico  and 
had  been  recognized  as  an  independent  Republic.  In  some  form 
news  of  the  sad  condition  of  religion  in  Texas  reached  the 
Sacred  Congregation  of  the  Propaganda  in  Rome  and  with  that 
tender  solicitude  for  souls  that  has  ever  characterized  the  Holy 
See,  the  following  letter  was  sent  to  Rt.  Rev.  Anthony  Blanc, 
Fiishop  of  New  Orleans. 

Illustrious  and  Reverend  Sir: 

It  has  been  made  known  to  the  Sacred  Congregation  that, 
in  the  whole  province  of  Texas,  no  Catholic  priest  is  to  be 
found,  that  there  is  a  great  multitude  of  Catholics,  dwelling 
there,  eagerly  solicitous  for  religion,  and  that  the  President  of 
the  Republic  shows  himself  to  be  benevolently  disposed  to  the 
Catholic  faith.  I  have  judged  it  proper  to  write  to  you  this 
letter  that  I  might  commend  thjs  serious  matter  to  you.  and  to 
say  that  you  will  do  a  thing  most  pleasing  to  the  Sacred  Con- 
gregation, if  w^ithout  any  delay  you  send  some  priests  to  the 
aforesaid  Province.  When  afterwards  the  Sacred  Congregation 
shall  have  received  a  true  relation  of  conditions,  from  the  priests 
whom  you  shall  have  sent,  then  the  Apostolic  Sec  will  deterniine 
what  is  best  for  procuring  of  the  permanent  good  of  religion. 
Asking  God  etc. 

Sacred  Congregation  of  the   Propagation  of  the   I'aith. 

16  January   i.^3«. 
J    I*h.   Card.   T'ransonius 

Prefect. 

Ilhne  et  Rme  One. 

S.  Congrii  rclatum  est  in  tota  Prorincin  Texas  nullum  Saeer- 
dotcw  Cafholicuni  reperri.  niai^natn  autem  Catholicoruw  mult:- 
tndinem  in  ca  conunoranteni  Reli^i^ionis  esse  ralde  studuisaw 
ipsumque  Prnrinciae  President  Cathnlicae  Reiii^inni  se  in  pnnii'! 
benevolunt  demonstrare.  Scribcndam  if^itur  Ampli.  Tuae  luinc 
cpistolam    iudicavi.    ut    Tibi   commendmem     rei    i^ravitatent,    Ji- 


34  TrrsTdin'  ov  thI': 

hiquc  significarcni  Tc  rem  i^ratissimaiii  S.  Congrii.  esse  factu- 
rum,  si  sine  mom  aliquos  ad  inenwratam  Proznncias  Sacerdotcs 
vtittas.  Postquam  vero  S.  Congr.  relationetn  reriim  Religioueui 
ifi  ea  Proz'i'ncia  respicienittim  sua  tempore  acceperit  a  Sacerdoti- 
bus,  qiios  miseris,  tunc  Sedes  Aplica  decernet  quae  ad  Religionis 
honum  stabili  fatione  ibi  procurananda  magis  opportuna  vide- 
biintur.  Precor  Deum,  iit  Amplcm.  Tiiam  diu  sospitem  ct 
felicem  seri'et. 
Amplitudini   Tuae 

Romae  ex  aedibus  S.  Cong,  de  Prop.  Fide  i6  lanrii  1838. 
nii  f rater  studiossimns 

P.  Ph.  Card,  Fransonius  Praef. 
Rdo.  P.  Duo.  Antonio  Blanc 
Epo.  Novae  Aureliae. 

On  the  25th  of  November  1838  Bishop  Blanc  made  known 
to  the  Cardinal  Prefect  his  determination  to  send  Father  Timon, 
Superior  of  the  Lazarists  to  Texas  to  make  an  investigation  and 
on  the  22nd  of  February  1839  Cardinal  Fransoni  asked  him  to 
do  nothing  without  consulting  Monsignor  Rosati,  Bishop  of 
St.  Louis. 

Illmo  e  Rmo  Signore. 
In  replica  alia  lettera  da  V.  S.  scrittami  in  data  25  di  Novembre 
mi  credo  tcnnto  a  parteciparle  che  circa  la  spedisione  al  Texas 
cW  Ella  penserebbe  di  fare  del  Signore  Timon  Superiore  del 
Lazzaristi  in  codeste  parti,  tale  spedizione  non  la  faccia  se  non 
dopo  ottenuto  il  consenso  e  beneplaciio  di  Mgr  Rosati  Vescovo 
di  St.  Lords.  Sicuro  che  V.  S.  di  buon  grado  si  coiiiormera  a 
questa  mia  communicazionc,  prego  il  Signore  che  lungamente 
La  conservi:  e  La  prosperi. 

Di  V.  S.  Roma  dalla  Propaganda  22  Febbrajo  1839. 

Come   Fratello   affnio. 

G.  J.  Card.  Fransoni  Praef. 
Mgr  Antonio  Blanc 
Vescovo  di  Nxwva  Orleans. 

But  Bishop  Blanc  had  evidently  acted  at  once  and  in  Novem- 
ber, 1838,  Father  Timon  and  Father  Lleberia,  C.  M.,  made  ar- 
rangements to  visit  Texas  and  left  New  Orleans  on  Christmas 
Eve.    Their  story  is  best  told  by  their  own  letters : 

Letter  to  Father  Nozo,  Superior  General,  C.  M.  Annales  de 
la  Propagation  de  la  Foi.  Tome  XII  Janvier  1840  No.  LXVIII. 
The  text  of  this  letter  is  incomplete;  the  complete  text  is  found 
in  the  following  letter; 


DIOCESE  OF  GALVESTON  35 

My  dear  Superior : 

For  some  years,  Texas,  an  obscure  province  of  Mexico,  was, 
so  to  say,  neither  known  nor  inhabited  ;  there  was  known  onlv 
the  City  of  San  Antonio,  founded  in  1698;  Bahia,  built  in  I7i6, 
also  called  Goliad;  Nacogdoches,  founded  in  1732,  and  a  little 
later  \'ictoria  and  Refugio,  constructed  by  the  Mexicans.  Aside 
from  these  villages  which  were  not  much,  Texas  was  nothing 
but  a  vast  desert  overrun  by  savages.  About  the  year  1820  Mr. 
Austin,  an  American  of  the  United  States,  demanded  and  ob- 
tained permission  to  found  there  a  colony  of  his  compatriots, 
and  the  Mexicans  accorded  him  ample  privilege  to  encourage 
an  enterprise  that  they  deemed  useful.  A  little  afterwards  Mex- 
ico declared  its  independence  from  Spain  and  the  United  States 
recognized  that  independence  in  1823.  The  same  year  the  Em- 
peror Augustine  Iturbide  published  a  law  according  great  privi- 
leges to  the  inhabitants  of  Texas.  His  intention  was  to  favor 
immigration  into  that  country  and  to  increase  the  population. 
In  1824  Mexico  adopted  a  federal  constitution  formed  after  that 
of  the  United  States,  and,  in  consequence  the  provinces  of  Texas 
and  Coahuila  formed  one  of  the  states  of  the  new  federation. 
As  a  result  a  great  number  of  Americans  passed  into  Texas  and 
settled  there. 

In  1832  they  wished  to  change  the  form  of  government  and 
Texas  opposed  with  very  earnest  resistance;  but  soon  (General 
Santa-Anna  succeeded  in  founding  a  Central  Republic  upon  the 
ruins  of  the  Ferlcral  Republic.  The  Texans  renewed  their  objec- 
tions and  demanded  the  Constitution  of  1824.  Finally  seeing  their 
views  rejected,  they  separated  from  Mexico.  Then  Santa  Ann-i 
turned  his  armies  against  them.  This  was  in  1836.  He  failed  in. 
his  enterprise,  was  defeated  and  made  prisoner. 

The  population  of  Texas  at  this  time  is  about  two  hundreil 
thousand,  and  it  is  increasing  daily  in  a  wonderful  manner.  As 
the  area  of  the  State  is  70,000  square  leagues,  there  is  a  vast 
quantity  of  land  that  lies  uncultivated,  and  the  land  is  very  fertile. 
In  this  vast  extended  state  there  are  now  only  two  Mexican 
priests,  and  their  conduct  unfortunately  is  not  irreproachable. 
They  live  at  San  Antonio,  a  city  of  1,500  Catholic  Mexicans, 
50  Catholic  Americans  and  about  one  hundred  Protestants.  That 
city  has  a  beautiful  Church,  which  could  not  be  built  today  for 
750.000  francs,  but  it  has  been  damaged  by  fire,  and  more  by  the 
larelessness  of  those  who  have  left  it  in  a  state  of  unclcanlincss 
positively  revolting.  The  faith  is  still  alive.  The  Church  pos- 
sesses considcral)le  propcrtv,  anrl  the  comitry  round  about  is  the 
most  beautiful  and  the  most  fertile  of  all  Texas,  in  fact  of  all 
.America.  The  climate  also  is  very  healthful.  About  three  leagues 
from  San  Antonio  is  Goliad,     that  citv.  sufficiently   iK.inilated 


36 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


before  the  war,  is  now  reduced  to  15  or  20  families,  the  greater 
part  Mexicans.  It  was  in  the  Church  at  GoHad  that  were  placed, 
as  a  secure  location,  all  the  vestments,  chalices,  etc.,  of  the 
Churches  round  about,  but  nothing  was  saved ;  all  were  lost  in 
the  war,  the  walls  of  the  Church  alone  remain. 

At  ten  leagues  to  the  southwest  of  Goliad  is  found  the  city, 
or  rather  the  village  of  Refugio,  which  has  for  its  whole  popula- 
tion forty  Irish  Catholic  families.  One  sees  that  the  Church  here 
also  suffered  much  from  the  war,  but  that  it  will  be  easy  to 
restore  it  anew.  It  possesses  sufficient  land  to  support  it  and 
a  little  revenue  assured  by  the  Mexican  laws.  Four  square  leagues 
of  land  are  set  aside  to  sustain  the  establishment  built  for  the 
instruction  of  youth.  They  desire  to  effect  the  conveyance  of 
this  immense  property  into  the  hands  of  a  Catholic  institution. 
They  have  reason  to  believe  that  the  Government  of  Texas  will 
consent  thereto. 

Four  leagues  from  Refugio  is  San  Patricio  on  the  Nueces 
River.  There  existed  a  Church  and  a  hall  but  the  war  destroyed 
everything.    There  is  not  an  inhabitant  left. 

Ten  leagues  to  the  east  of  Goliad  is  situated  Victoria.  The 
population  is  largely  Irish ;  there  are  about  two  hundred  Catholics 
and  thirty  or  forty  Protestants.  There  is  a  frame  Church  fifty 
feet  in  length  and  twenty  wide,  and  also  two  bells,  according 
to  the  custom  long  established  every  property  holder  of  the  city 
gives  two  and  a  half  francs  to  the  priest  who  serves  the  Church. 

To  the  east  of  Victoria  and  as  far  as  the  Colorado  River,  and 
to  the  south  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  there  are  scattered  Catholics 
but  few  in  number. 

The  Texans  claim  as  the  borders  of  their  state,  on  the  west 
the  Rio  Bravo  or  Rio  Grande.  The  country  between  the  Rio 
Grande,  the  Colorado  and  the  Gulf  is  magnificent.  It  is  never 
cold  in  the  winter  and  the  heat  of  the  summer  is  tempered  bv 
the  breeze  that  blows  from  the  sea.  But  the  fear  of  being  at- 
tacked by  the  Mexicans  or  by  the  savages,  causes  this  country 
to  be  lightly  populated.  As  soon  as  effective  means  are  obtained 
to  repulse  the  attack  of  these  enemies,  there  will  certainly  be  a 
large  population. 

The  Senators  of  San  Antonio  wish  to  ask  from  the  govern- 
ment a  piece  of  land  of  about  four  square  leagues  for  a  Catholic 
college.  They  believe  that  it  will  be  easy  to  obtain  if  they  can 
secure  Catholic  priests  to  take  charge  of  the  establishment.  A 
college  at  San  Antonio  would  be  of  immense  good.  As  the  site 
is  the  most  healthy  in  all  America  and  there  would  be  a  great 
number  of  pupils  and  no  difficulty  in  attracting  students  from 
Mexico.  I  desire  very  much  to  occupy  myself  soon  with  this 
work,  which  would  be  a  great  resource  for  the  Mission. 

Houston  is  the  Capital  of  the  new  Republic.    About  two  years 


DIOCESE  OF  GALN'ESTON  37 

ago  there  was  not  a  trace  of  a  house  where  it  now  stands  nor  for 
two  leagues  round  about,  and  now  there  are  five  thousand  people, 
of  whom  three  hundred  are  Catholics.  We  arrived  in  this  city 
on  the  3rd  of  January,  in  bad  weather.  I  searched  for  some  time 
to  find  a  place  to  lodge.  Congress  was  in  session  and  the  town 
was  crowded  and  every  place  filled. 

I  had  no  letter  of  introduction  to  anyone  and  everybody  to 
whom  I  applied  seemed  to  be  afraid  of  priests  and  ashamed  to 
acknowledge  that  they  were  Catholics.  We  found  ourselves  from 
a  human  standpoint,  sufficiently  sad,  and  without  any  resources 
except  the  Providence  of  God  to  which  we  confided  ourselves 
and  it  did  not  fail  us.  There  was  on  board  the  vessel  which 
brought  us  from  New  Orleans,  a  poor  Irish  woman  to  whom  1 
had  been  able  to  render  some  service.  She  acted  in  our  behalf 
and  so  disposed  a  Protestaiit  lady  with  whom  she  had  relation 
that  she  gave  us  a  little  room,  miserable  and  apart  from  her  home. 
That  room  was  so  located  that  it  facilitated  our  contact  with  in- 
fluential persons.  We  erected  an  altar,  and  the  following  day, 
the  Octave  of  St.  John,  the  Evangelist,  we  said  Holy  Mass  in 
the  place,  where  without  doubt  the  Holy  Sacrifice  was  offered 
for  the  first  time  in  Houston.  The  same  day  I  had  the  pleasure 
of  meeting  a  senator  and  two  members  of  Congress.  They  gave 
us  their  confidence  on  learning  who  we  were  and  what  the  pur- 
pose of  our  trip  was.  They  put  themselves  at  our  service  to 
furnish  all  the  information  that  we  might  desire.  It  was  through 
them  that  we  were  able  to  meet  all  the  important  personages  of 
the  Republic.  Things  went  so  well  that  I  was  invited  to  preach 
the  following  Sunday  in  the  Capitol  in  presence  of  the  representa- 
tives of  the  State.  There  was  a  great  concourse  of  people,  and 
even  four  Protestant  ministers.  After  the  sermon  Mr.  Burnet, 
the  Vice-President  of  the  Republic,  made  known  his  desire  to  see 
me  and  invited  me  to  visit  him.  Many  senators  and  other  pcrson> 
of  distinction  came  to  offer  their  services  with  every  evidence  of 
earnest  good  will.  In  consequence  nobody  was  ashamed  to  ac- 
knowledge that  he  was  a  Catholic,  and  I  saw  with  consolation 
that  there  were  many  sheep  in  Houston  who  belonged  to  the 
sheepfold  of  the  Savior.  Many  came  to  look  us  up  and  wc  coun- 
.sclc(l  together  to  obtain  a  small  piece  of  ground  anrl  sufTicient 
means  to  build  a  Catholic  church.  Everyone  worked  zcalous'y 
and  they  gave  us  the  assurance  that  it  would  be  soon  accomplished. 
It  will  be  the  first  religious  edifice  built  in  Houston. 

There  arc  a  great  number  of  i'rotcstant  ministers  in  this  town, 
but  their  ministry  is  sterile.  They  have  not  as  yet  succeeded  in 
building  any  church.  Some  of  them  who  assisted  at  my  instruc- 
tion, heard  the  development  of  Catholic  dogmas.  They  have  not 
ventured  a  criticism  of  the  truths  I  preached,  either  at  the  Capitol 
or  in  the  assemblies  of  their  own  co-religionists.     It  is  true  that 


3^  HISTORY  OF  THE 


I  tried  on  that  occasion  to  imitate  St.  Francis  de  Sales  and  to  start 
controversy  without  seeming  to  go  too  far.  Every  day  we  had 
some  people  at  Mass,  and  on  Sunday  a  great  number.  I  heard 
seven  confessions,  the  first  fruits  of  our  Mission  to  Texas. 

I  was  introduced  to  General  Houston,  the  ex-President  of  the  j 
Republic.  He  invited  me  to  lunch  with  him,  and  did  not  hesitate  | 
to  start  a  conversation  on  religion,  with  arguments  extremely 
honest.  He  confided  to  me  all  his  difficulties  and  appeared  satis- 
fied with  my  explanations,  and  as  I  had  to  take  my  departure  soon, 
and  time  was  lacking  to  treat  the  grave  questions  on  which  he 
desired  light,  he  permitted  me  to  send  him  some  books  which  may 
carry  conviction  to  his  soul.  I  see  clearly  that  there  is  in  the 
hearts  of  a  great  many  a  well-defined  penchant  for  the  Catholic 
religion,  and  that  much  good  can  be  done  here.  I  have  found 
nevertheless  among  some  hostile  feelings.  The  Protestants  of  the 
United  States,  and  in  particular  the  Presbyterians,  are  making 
incredible  efforts  to  establish  their  sect ;  to  one  of  their  ministers 
they  have  just  sent  twelve  thousand  five  hundred  francs,  and  he 
is  to  receive  a  like  sum  every  year.  This  minister  is  securing 
some  aid  in  the  state  also,  so  that  he  is  being  made  rich  but  is  not 
making  spiritual  conquests.  The  gentlemen  have  made  many  at- 
tempts to  claim  lands  belonging  to  the  Catholic  Church.  At 
Nacogdoches  they  attempted  to  build  a  church  on  ground  belong- 
ing to  the  Catholic  Church.  Although  the  Constitution  declares 
that  all  religions  are  equally  protected  by  the  law,  and  forbids 
favoritism  to  any  one,  I  see  nevertheless  by  the  power  accorded 
since  the  revolution  to  the  municipalities  of  the  old  towns,  that 
there  is  danger  of  our  lands  being  declared  public  property  if 
respectable  priests  are  not  here  to  defend  the  rights  of  Catholicit}'. 

In  the  county  of  Nacogdoches  there  are  about  six  hundred 
Catholics,  half  of  whom  are  Mexicans.  There  is  no  priest,  an 
old  beadle  recites  the  prayers  on  Sunday,  not  in  a  church  but  in 
the  house  of  a  Catholic  Mexican.  To  the  southeast  of  the  town 
there  are  still  a  few  Catholics  but  scattered  over  a  great  extent  of 
territory.  Colonel  Sublett,  a  very  rich  and  influential  man,  lives 
near  San  Augustine.  He  came  to  Houston  to  visit  me.  He 
showed  his  zeal  for  religion  and  asked  me  to  come  and  visit  that 
section  and  lodge  with  him.  M.  Ro'bert,  who  was  a  member  of 
the  convention  which  proclaimed  the  independence  of  Texas, 
who  exercises  great  influence  in  that  section,  came  to  visit  me 
and  expressed  the  same  sentiments.  These  two  responsible  gentle- 
men have  joined  General  Houston  and  have  commenced  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Sabine  River  a  new  town,  which  will  soon  be  of 
considerable  size  and  flourishing.  They  have  asked  me  to  send 
a  priest  who  may  visit  that  town  from  time  to  time,  and  they  have 
promised  to  give  the  land  for  the  building  of  a  church,  which  they 
will  construct  at  their  own  expense.     To  the  east  of  the  Sabine 


DIOCESE  OF  GALVESTON  39 

and  in  the  State  of  Louisiana  there  are  found  some  Catholic  fami- 
lies, whose  total  will  amount  to  a  hundred  souls. 

So  you  see,  my  dear  Superior,  that  the  needs  are  extreme. 
The  priests  who  come  to  Texas  ought  to  be  closely  observed  and 
carefully  selected.  Their  conduct  ought  to  be  edifying,  in  order 
to  repair  scandals  and  to  gain  public  confidence.  ^loreover,  one 
finds  here  a  great  number  of  strong  men.  The  Protestant  minis- 
ters are  more  capable  than  those  of  the  United  States.  The  need 
then  will  be  for  learned  priests,  capable  of  doing  honor  to  religion 
and  endowed  with  a  particular  tact  to  defend  the  Catholic  faith 
without  wounding  the  susceptibilities  of  their  adversaries. 

After  taking  counsel  with  our  friends,  we  are  returning  as 
soon  as  possible  to  New  Orleans,  in  order  to  withdraw  the  faculties 
of  the  unfortunate  priest  of  San  Antonio.  It  will  be  necessary 
to  send  missionaries  fortified  with  very  regular  and  very  authentic 
powers  in  order  to  avoid  a  schism.  At  once  we  shall  send  evan- 
gelical workers  to  Matagorda,  to  Victoria  and  to  Refugio.  In  two 
or  three  months  the  churches  at  Houston  and  Galveston  will  be 
built.  It  will  be  necessary  to  put  priests  there,  who  cannot  fail 
to  accomplish  much  good.  I  await  for  your  instructions  ami 
orders,  but  I  await  them  impatiently. 

In  two  or  three  years  the  Church  in  Texas  can  pay  its  own 
way,  but  at  this  moment  it  is  important  to  organize,  and  we  can- 
not do  so  without  great  expense.  Everything  is  very  dear.  Im- 
migration is  so  heavy  that  all  the  necessities  arc  high  priced, 
production  not  being  in  proportion  to  consumption.  It  will  not 
be  so  in  two  years.  But  now  is  the  time  to  act  or  otherwise  the 
Protestants  will  precede  us. 

P.  S. — New  Orleans,  Jan.  14. — We  arrived  today  at  New 
Orleans.  I  awaited  my  return  to  mail  this  letter.  I  am  sending 
back  at  once  to  Donaldsonville  I'"ather  Llcberia,  who  accompanied 
me  to  Texas,  and  who  was  very  useful  on  the  trip.  I  will  stay 
here  to  give  a  retreat  at  the  Hospital. 

With  the  homage  of  my  respect,  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  etc. 

TIMON.  Priest  of  the  Mission. 

The  letter  which  precedes  is  not  a  complete  copy.  The  original 
contains  much  matter  whicli  the  I-'ditor  of  The  .Annals  of*  the 
Propagation  of  the  Faith  saw  fit  to  su])[)ress.  Nothing  of  import- 
ance was  omitted,  but  those  anxious  tr>  read  the  entire  letter  can 
find  it  in  "The  Annals  of  the  Congregation  of  the  Mission."  Vol. 
V,  pp.  89-108. 

The  letter  of  his  traveling  companion,  I\ather  Llebcria,  supplies 
the  voids  which  the  humility  of  Father  Timon  caused  him  to  pass 
over  in  silence. 


40  HISTORY  OF  THE 

New  Orleans,  July  15,  1839. 
To  Father  Etiennc.  Procur.  Genl.  C.  M. 
Paris. 
My  dear  Confrere : 

It  is  some  time  since  I  have  taken  up  with  you  our  dear  mission 
of  America.  I  have  a  beautiful  occasion -to  do  so  today.  1  have 
just  returned  from  a  very  interesting  trip  to  Texas  with  Father 
Timon.  He  will  give  the  particulars  of  the  journey  no  doubt,  but 
he  will  omit  the  details  concerning  himself  of  which  his  modesty 
will  not  permit  him  to  speak.  That  is  the  reason  that  I  take  it  up 
with  you,  at  the  risk  of  repeating  what  you  already  know. 

I  was  sent  to  Assumption,  LaFourche,  soon  after  my  arrival 

in  America I  was  occupied  there  in  the  work  of  the 

ministry  when  I  was  informed  that  I  had  been  designated  to  ac- 
company Father  Timon  in  his  visitation  of  Texas I  ar- 
rived at  New  Orleans  Christmas  Eve  and  went  to  the  Cathedral. 
After  Mass,  I  went  to  the  Bishop's  House,  where  I  met  Father 
Timon,  who  told  me  that  it  was  necessary  to  leave  for  Texas  at 
once.  It  was  painful  to  pass  Christmas  Day  at  sea,  but  it  was 
impossible  to  do  otherwise ;  the  steamboat  sailed  that  day.  We 
went  aboard  at  ten  in  the  morning  and  arrived  in  Galveston  the 
26th  at  nine  in  the  evening.  We  waited  until  morning  to  go  ashore 
and  we  could  find  no  lodging  except  at  a  pretty  poor  hotel.  Hap- 
pily we  remained  there  only  a  few  hours.  Providence  reserved 
for  us  better  hospitality  in  the  home  of  one  of  the  citizens,  where 
we  erected  an  altar  to  celebrate  the  sacred  mysteries.  Father 
Timon  went  from  door  to  door  to  see  if  he  could  find  any  Cath- 
olics in  the  city.  He  met  some,  but  they  were  such  only  in  name. 
However,  they  yielded  to  the  impress  of  his  zeal  and  he  had  soon 
gained  the  hearts  of  a  number  of  the  faithful  and  heretics.  The 
following  Sunday  he  gave  Holy  Communion  to  those  who  had 
been  to  confession.  I  was  appointed  to  say  the  ten  o'clock  Mass. 
Many  people  were  present  and  Protestants  were  not  lacking. 
Father  Timon  told  me  to  sit  down  after  the  gospel,  as  he  wished 
to  say  a  few  words  to  the  people.  Those  few  lasted  for  three- 
quarters  of  an  hour,  during  which  the  attendants  listened  with 
attention  and  extraordinary  recollection.  After  the  Mass  he 
said  prayers  and  invited  those  present  to  return  in  the  afternoon 
for  an  instruction  upon  the  truths  of  religion.  They  came  back 
at  the  hour  indicated  but  in  a  much  larger  number  than  in  the 
morning.  He  commenced  his  discourse  at  two  o'clock  and  did  no: 
finish  until  five,  and  the  people  were  so  touched  that  some  ex- 
pressed regret  that  he  had  finished  too  soon.  Many  Protestants 
were  moved,  among  others  the  American  consul,  whom  I  observed 
during  the  sermon,  and  who  wished  immediately  afterward  to 
meet  Father  Timon  and  confer  with  him.     He  avowed  to  me 


DIOCESE  OF  GALVESTON  4! 

that  he  understood  now  the  truth  of  the  CathoHc  religion.  "  I  can 
not  any  longer  resist  the  force  of  the  truth  and  I  am  ready  to 
embrace  it,  when  I  shall  be  sufficiently  instructed."  He  offered 
us  his  services  and  even  lodging  in  his  house.  His  wife  shares 
his  sentiments  and  many  others  are  well  disposed  so  that  the  day 
a  church  is  built  in  Galveston,  the  city  will  be  Catholic.  Father 
Timon  thinks  as  I  do,  and  put  himself  in  touch  with  prominent 
men  of  the  city,  to  seek  the  means  of  building  a  church.  He 
inspired  such  confidence  in  them  that  they  adopted  the  plan  pro- 
posed and  have  started  out  to  accomplish  it.  In  a  few  months 
the  church  will  be  finished.  It  will  be  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet 
long  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  in  width.  Father  Timon  has 
decided  nothing  yet  regarding  divine  services.  I  must  avow  that 
when  I  saw  the  happy  dispositions  of  all  hearts  that  I  cried  out 
interiorily,  "O !  Lord ;  what  a  beautiful  and  vast  field  there  is  here 
presented  for  the  zeal  of  the  Children  of  St.  Vincent!" 

Only  a  few  days  before  the  Protestant  ministers  asked  permis- 
sion to  build  in  the  city  a  temple  which  would  serve  for  the 
exercise  of  all  religions.  They  did  not  obtain  it.  and  here  we  are 
asking  that  a  church  be  built  and  consecrated  to  the  Catholic  re- 
ligion alone  to  the  exclusion  of  all  other  beliefs,  and  we  have  been 
able  to  obtain  our  desires. 

We  remained  at  Galveston  only  five  days,  during  which  we 
had  the  happiness  to  gain  some  souls  to  Christ.  We  went  at  once 
to  Houston.  That  city,  which  is  in  existence  only  twenty  months, 
is  the  first  city  of  the  Republic,  because  it  is  the  scat  of  govern- 
ment and  of  the  two  houses,  the  Senate  and  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives. We  arrived  there  at  second  of  January  at  six  o'clock 
in  the  morning.  Father  Timon  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  there 
a  Representative  whom  he  knew,  and  soon  he  was  put  in  toucn 
with  many  other  distinguished  men.  They  asked  him  to  preach 
the  following  Sunday  at  the  Cai)itol.  which  was  filled  with  a 
crowd  eager  to  hear  him.  He  began  at  half-past  three  and  s]ioke 
until  five,  and  they  listened  with  great  attention.  He  was  sur- 
rounded, after  his  sermon,  by  a  great  number  of  the  Senators 
and  Deputies,  who  expressed  their  satisfaction  and  asked  him  to 
preach  again,  if  his  stay  in  Houston  could  be  j)rol()ngcd.  His 
sermon  was  transcribcfl  by  many  for  insertion  in  the  j)ul)lic  prints. 
I'Vom  that  moment,  his  friend,  the  Representative,  stayed  with  us 
and  tried  to  do  everything  possible  for  his  cntertniinncnt.  There 
was  no  longer  question  of  human  respect.  The  Catholics  made 
open  confession  of  their  faith  and  were  respected.  Many  Protest- 
ants indicated  their  respect  for  our  faith.  C)ne  of  them  said  lo 
me,  "  I  am  a  Protestant,  but  nevertheless  I  wish  to  see  a  Catholic 
church  here.  I  have  no  hesitancy  in  saying  that  I  atlmirc  your 
Church  and  many  others  would  be  disposed  to  embrace  the  Cath- 


42  HISTORY  OF  THE 

olic  faith,  if  wc  had  here  a  man  like  your  Father  Superior.  Ask 
him  to  stay  with  us." 

As  at  Galveston,  Father  at  once  opened  a  subscription  to  build 
a  church,  which  was  covered  with  numerous  signatures.  The 
work  has  commenced  and  in  a  few  months  it  will  be  finished. 

The  best  people  in  the  city  have  asked  us  to  visit  them.  Wc 
have  been  compelled  to  offer  excuses  because  of  our  work  in 
visiting;  the  sick  and  hearing  confessions. 

1  do  not  know^  whether  I  shall  be  of  the  number  of  those  who 
are  destined  to  work  in  Texas,  but  I  am  at  the  disposition  of  Di- 
vine Providence. 

In  the  love  of  our  Savior, 

LLEBERIA,  Priest  of  the  Mission. 

From  a  letter  of  Bishop  Blanc  to  Fr.  Jeanjean,  May  27,  1839, 
we  learn  that  two  other  Lazarists  had  visited  Texas : 

"M.  Paquin  et  M.  Chandy  viennent  d'arriver  d'une  visitc 

au  Texas.  lis  I'ont  parcouru  a  entier,  presque,  et  sont  enchantes 
de  la  perspective  pour  I'avenir  de  la  religion  dans  ce  pays,  mais 
il  ne  faute  perdre  de  temps" 

"Mr.  Paquin  and  Mr.  Chandy  have  just  arrived  from  a  visit 
to  Texas.  They  have  gone  through  the  whole  state  and  are  en- 
chanted with  the  prospects  for  the  future  of  religion  in  that 
country,  but  no  time  is  to  be  lost." 


CHAPTER  VI. 


BISHOP  ODIN'S  DIARY. 

We  present  only  the  high  lights.  We  regret  that  space  for- 
bids the  printing  of  Bishop  Odin's  diary  in  its  entirety.  We  are 
indebted  to  Monsignor  W.  W.  Hume  of  New  Orleans  for  our 
copy.  It  tells  a  story  of  wonderful  travel,  intense  zeal  and  self- 
sacrifice  "wrought  with  labor  and  travail  night  and  day"  (II 
Thess.  Ill  8),  so  that  like  Timothy  of  Paul,  we  know  his  "doc- 
trine, manner  of  life,  purpose,  faith,  long-suffering,  charity,  pa- 
tience."    (II  Tim.  Ill   lo). 

May  2d,  1840.  I  left  St.  Mary's  Seminary,  Perry  County, 
Mo.,  for  Texas.  Went  with  Mr.  Dortrelmine  to  Cape  Girar- 
deau.    (Headache.) 

7th.  That  day  will  never  be  forgotten  by  the  inhabitants  of 
Natchez.  Between  2  and  3  p.  m.  a  dreadful  hurricane  swept  off 
almost  all  the  houses ;  great  many  lives  lost ;  sight  frightful ; 
trees  torn  down  ;  S.  B.  Prairie  all  torn  into  pieces ;  S.  B.  Hind 
sunk ;  great  many  flat  boats  destroyed ;  people  drowned ;  young 
Emanuel  Blanc,  from  St.  Louis  University,  killed.  Rainy  day 
and  hail  storm.  Our  escape  from'  the  hurricane  was  certainly 
miraculous,  as  we  were  within  a  short  distance  from  the  region 
of  it,  and  would  have  been  in  it  had  we  not  stopped  for  a  few 
moments.  The  Mississippi  overflowing  from  the  mouth  of  the 
Ohio  down  to  Pointe  Coupee.     I  saw  Mr.  Brozier  at  Natchez. 

July  1st,  1840.  I  embarked  on  schooner  Henry,  master.  Ed- 
ward Auld,  for  Linnville,  Texas. 

2nd.     At  9  o'clock  we  left  the  balize.     Calm  during  the  day. 

8th.  We  saw  land  and  entered  the  pass,  Cavallo,  anchored 
for  a  moment  at  the  Custom  House,  where  the  brig  Sam  Hous- 
ton laid  at  anchor,  and  then  continued  as  far  as  Indian,  where 
we  remaincfl  aground  until  the  iith. 

I2th.     We  arrived  in  the  evening  at  the  port  of  Einnville. 

13th.  Went  ashore  and  met  Messrs.  James  I'ulkcrson  and 
Renfroe.  Judge  Hayes,  a  Catholic,  Mr.  Ewing  and  his  sister 
who  was  raised  at  Nazareth,  Ky.  Tul  nj)  at  Mr.  Lanes  and 
went  and  saw  Mr.  Watts,  who  was  to  be  married  on  the  follow- 
ing Saturday,  to  Miss  Ewing.  There  are  at  Linnville  about 
12  houses. 

16th.     I   went  to  X'ictoria  in  company  with  Col.   McDonald, 


44 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


a  Catholic.  Tut  up  at  Mr.  Linn's.  There  are  about  24  Catholic 
families  at  this  place;  40  more  reside  at  Don  Carlo's  ranch,  18 
miles  from  Victoria ;  5  on  Coleto,  9  miles,  and  7  Mexicans  and 
2  Irish  families  at  Goliad,  on  the  San  Antonio,  30  miles  from 
\'ictoria. 

2 1  St.  We  started  for  San  Antonio,  leaving  Fr.  Estany,  Pas- 
tor of  Victoria  and  of  all  the  neighboring  places.  That  evening 
we  stopped  on  the  Coleto,  a  small  creek. 

23rd.  We  visited  in  the  morning  La  Abaia,  or  Goliad,  a 
town  built  in  the  year  or  about  1715.  There  was  at  first  a  plain 
church  with  a  common  roof.  La  Abaia  was  very  much  injured 
in  1835  and  it  was  almost  completely  destroyed  in  1836,  in  the 
month  of  March.  The  population  was  then  1,500  souls.  There 
was  an  old  fortification  around  the  church.  The  patron  of  the 
church  is  Our  Lady  of  Loretto.  There  are  only  seven  Mexican, 
two  Irish  and  two  American  families  living  in  Goliad.  Goliad 
stands  on  a  beautiful  eminence  on  the  banks  of  the  San  Antonio 
river.  The  prairies  around  are  vast  and  fertile.  From  a  dis- 
tance the  traveler  is  struck  by  the  view  of  the  few  buildings  still 
standing,  and  imagines  himself  approaching  one  of  the  ancient 
cities  of  Italy.  It  was  first  called  La  Abaia,  on  account  of  its 
being  near  or  dependent  on  the  Abbey  of  St.  Bernard,  or 
Copano,  about  fifteen  leagues  distant  from  it.  It  has  taken  the 
name  of  Goliad  on  account  of  a  request  made  by  a  man  named 
Raphael  Manchiola,  a  celebrated  man  who  lived  at  the  old  place 
and  was  a  representative  for  the  place  in  the  year  1829.  Near 
Goliad,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  San  Antonio  river,  stands  an 
old  ruined  church,  known  by  the  name  of  the  Mission  of  Espiritu 
Santo.  It  was  erected  by  the  King  of  Spain  for  the  Indian 
mission  and  was  under  the  care  of  the  religious  of  Guadalupe. 
It  was  destroyed  in  the  year  1814  by  order  of  the  King  of  Spain. 
Five  miles  west  of  Goliad  there  are  likewise  the  ruins  of  a 
church  and  convent  called  Mission  Rosario.  The  Mission  Del 
Refugio  is  8  leagues  distant  from  Goliad. 

30th.  We  arrived  at  San  Antonio  early  in  the  morning  and 
took  our  lodging  in  a  house  of  Mr.  Cassiano.  Visited  Fr.  Valdez 
and  later  in  the  evening  went  to  see  Father  Garza. 

August  6th.  I  went  to  receive  from  Mr.  De  la  Garza  some 
silver  vessels  belonging  to  the  church.  The  same  day  the  old 
father  was  arrested  and  conducted  under  escort  to  Austin,  on 
account  of  a  letter  he  had  written  to  General  Aristo  to  inform 
him  of  movements  of  the  Federals. 

nth.  Mr.  Calvo  carried,  publicly,  the  Blessed  Sacramenc 
to  a  sick  man.  The  ceremony  was  attended  by  a  large  concourse 
of  people.  It  had  not  been  witnessed  for  fourteen  years.  The 
old  people  were  shedding  tears  of  joy. 


DIOCESE  OF  GALVESTON 


45 


15th.  High  mass  and  Spanish  instructions  at  12  o'clock. 
Great  confusion  in  town;  it  was  rumored  that  the  Indians  had 
attacked  San  Bartolo  ranchio ;  it  was  contradicted.  On  the  same 
day  there  was  a  meeting  of  trustees  for  repairing  the  church  to 
which  I  was  invited.  I  asked  of  j\Ir.  Smith  if  there  was  any 
order  from  the  civil  authority  to  ring  the  bells  for  Protestant 
burials,  horse  races,  cock  fights,  etc.,  etc.,  and  he  told  me  not, 
and  when  informed  that  it  was  contrary  to  our  rules  he  advised 
me  to  pursue  from  now  on  the  course  I  would  have  to  adopt 
afterwards.  They  gave  me  also  permission  of  using  the  silver 
plate  for  repairs  of  the  sanctuary. 

i6th.  I  preached  in  English  to  a  small  congregation.  That 
same  day,  at  8  p.  m,  died  Col.  Henry  W.  Karnes,  a  man  of 
great  worth,  regretted  by  all ;  he  fought  in  many  battles. 

17th.  Received  a  letter  from  Father  Estany  informing  me 
that  the  Indians  had  robbed  him  of  everything.  I  wrote  back 
to  him.  In  the  evening  Mr.  Iffiard  came  to  ask  permission  to 
ring  the  bells  for  Mr.  Karnes'  burial ;  I  told  him  it  was  impos- 
sible. 

1 8th.  Burial  of  Colonel  Karnes.  Mr.  Dwyer  came  again  to 
ask  permission  to  ring  bells ;  I  told  him  it  was  impossible.  Great 
displeasure  among  some  Americans.  A  doctor  and  a  lawyer 
went  to  the  steei)le  to  ring;  I  said  nothing.  They  had  in  the 
evening  a  meeting,  but  could  get  only  nine  persons  to  attend. 

19th.  At  the  instigation  of  John  W.  Smith  they  tried  to  get 
up  among  the  Mexicans  a  list  in  favor  of  Father  Garza,  to  re- 
store him  to  his  office,  but  they  failed  in  the  attempt. 

20th.  They  brought  me  a  copy  of  the  resolutions  drafted 
at  the  soi-distant  public  meeting,  to  which  I  replied  on  the  spot. 
I  wrote  to  Fr.  Timon. 

Oct.  13th.  Mr.  Flores,  in  the  evening  of  yesterday,  after 
his  night's  devotions,  was  reflecting  on  the  number  of  people 
killed  since  the  ist  of  January,  1840,  till  the  12th  of  October  of 
the  same  year.  He  recollected  that  thirtv-five  Mexican  natives 
of  San  Antonio  had  been  killed  by  the  Conianchcs,  three  more 
were  supposed  to  have  perished  likewise  under  their  blows; 
fourteen  Americans  were  also  dispatchcrl  to  their  graves  in  th.'it 
space  of  time  by  the  same  foe. 

Nov.  loth,  1840.  I  visited  Mr.  I'lorcs'  ranchio.  on  the  bank 
of  the  Guadalupe.  Great  many  people  living  at  the  ranchio. 
We  crossed  the  Guadalupe  and  visited  Seguin,  a  small  town  laid 
out  in  the  early  part  of  1838  and  composed  of  about  fiftccti 
scattered  houses.  The  location  is  hand.some.  but  unimproved. 
We  had  a  very  heavy  rain  during  the  greater  part  of  the  dnv. 
We  encamped  at  nirht  nnn'-  ^''-  ^^'■•"-'<;  hotise,  about  nine  miles 
from  Gonzales.     Heaw  rain   during  the  night. 


46  HISTORY  OF  THE 

nth.  We  crossed  the  San  Mark,  a  very  rapid  and  beautiful 
stream  that  empties  into  the  Guadahipe  about  half  a  mile  from 
Gonzales.  Passed  through  Gonzales  at  12  o'clock.  This  town 
was  laid  out  in  the  year  1826  by  James  Kerr,  agent  of  Dewitt 
Colony,  the  5th  of  January,  1826.  The  first  inhabitant  was 
Mr.  James  Kerr.  On  the  2nd  day  of  July,  1826,  it  was  destroyed 
by  the  Indians,  containing  then  about  14  inhabitants.  In  the 
fall  of  1827  it  was  re-peopled  again.  Mr  Kerr  gave  it  the  name 
of  Gonzales,  from  the  Governor  of  the  Province.  It  was  alto- 
gether inhabited  by  Americans.  In  the  year  1836  it  contained 
about  30  houses  and  on  hearing  of  the  fall  of  the  Alamo  the 
Americans  burnt  it  down.  It  is  now  a  town  of  about  25  houses. 
Seems  to  be  growing.  We  encamped  on  the  bank  of  the  Guada- 
lupe near  Mrs.  McCoy's  house.     Heavy  white  frost. 

13th.  23  miles  from  \'^ictoria  I  met  Mr.  Patrick  Dullen,  a 
Catholic  from  Missouri.  Traversed  very  extensive  prairies. 
Large  pecans  grow  on  the  bank  of  the  Guadalupe.  Early  in  the 
morning  we  arrived  at  Victoria.  I  spent  my  time  with  Fr. 
Estany;  found  him  quite  thin,  he  has  been  sick  during  all  the 
fall.  They  are  repairing  the  church.  Victoria  was  first  settled 
in  the  year  1824  by  Martino  DeLeoii  and  contained  about  113 
families,  all  Mexicans  except  Mr.  Linn's  family.  The  place  was 
under  the  jurisdiction  of  Father  Valdez,  Parish  Priest  of  Laba- 
hia,  but  he  sent  down  occasionally  Padre  Miguel  Muro,  a  reli- 
gious of  Guadalupe  who  resided  at  the  Mission  of  Refugio  with 
Padre  Diaz;  both  excellent  men.  Padre  Muro  left  in  1833  for 
Zacatecas.  Fr.  Diaz  was  sent  to  Nacogdoches  at  about  the  years 
1829  or  30  and  was  killed  in  1834  on  the  Trinity  River.  At 
\'ictoria  we  heard  of  the  success  obtained  by  Col.  John  H.  Moore 
against  the  Comanches.  Accompanied  by  120  men  and  a  good 
number  of  Lepans,  he  went  up  to  the  head  waters  of  the  Colo- 
rado about  300  miles  above  Austin,  met  a  village,  killed  48  in 
the  battle  ground  and  88  more  were  killed  in  the  water  or 
drowned.  They  took  30  prisoners  6  of  whom  escaped  from 
them.  They  took  also  400  head  of  horses  and  mules.  I  heard 
also  of  the  return  of  Major  Howard  at  San  Antonio  on  the 
evening  of  the  day  we  left ;  he  had  no  success. 

Nov.  29th,  1840,.  I  arrived  at  Austin  and  put  up  at  Mr. 
Thompson's. 

Nov.  30th.  I  visited  Mr.  DeSaligny,  who  invited  me  to  his 
house.     I  assisted  at  the  discussions  of  Congress. 

1st  of  Dec,  1840.  I  received  from  Mr.  DeSaligny  two  or 
three  acres  of  land  for  a  church  and  convent  and  put  up  with 
him.     I  sent  my  horse  and  mule  to  Mr.  Smith's. 

2nd.  I  visited  some  few  Catholic  families  and  Hon.  Mr. 
Mvrne. 


DIOCESE  OF  GALVESTON  47 

3rd.     I  assisted  at  the  debate  of  Congress. 

4th.     I  bought  2  lots  for  the  sum  of  $280  Texas  money. 

5th.  A  great  dinner  at  i\Ir.  DeSaligny.  at  which  assisted 
General  Sam  Houston  and  many  members  of  Congress. 

9th.  I  bought  six  lots,  7,  8,  9,  10,  11  and  12  in  block  28 
facing  Cedar,  Labacia  and  Colorado  Streets  for  the  sum  of  $366. 
I  visited  Mr.  Bonnell,  editor  of  "The  Texas  Sentinel." 

loth.  Yesterday  in  the  evening  there  arrived  an  express 
from  San  Antonio.  That  Col.  Seguin  had  joined  the  Centralists 
and  that  many  of  the  people  of  San  Antonio  were  leaving  the 
country.  Great  excitement  at  Austin.  This  day  I  bought  again 
lot  No.  4  in  block  28  for  the  sum  of  $40. 

nth.  Opened  a  subscription  for  building  a  church  at  Austin 
and  received  my  patent  for  2  lots  Nos.  3  and  4  in  block  62.  The 
church  at  Austin  is  to  be  under  the  invocation  of  St.  Louis.  I 
became  acquainted  with  Mr.  Ilill,  a  particular  friend  of  Mr. 
DeSaligny,  who  lives  on  the  road  to  LaGrange,  50  miles  below 
Austin. 

14th.  I  saw  in  a  Galveston  paper  the  arrival  there  of  Revs 
Timon  and  Stehle.     I  began  to  write  to  Cardinal  Fransoni. 

i6th.  I  wrote  to  Cardinal  Fransoni.  We  had  dinner  with 
General  Sam  Houston  and  General  Harrison. 

2ist.  I  gave  my  petition  to  Col.  Porter  to  be  presented  t  j 
the  house.  In  the  morning  it  was  read  in  the  house  and  referred 
to  a  select  committee.  At  12  o'clock  Mr.  Byrne  and  Dr.  Miller 
were  appointed  to  come  and  communicate  to  me  that  I  had  been 
designated  to  act  as  chaplain  for  the  Senate.  I  accepted.  1 
wrote  to  Mr.  DeSaligny.  We  prepared  an  altar.  Tn  the  eve- 
ning, Frs.  Timon  and  Stehle  arrived  in  Austin. 

25th.  I  celebrated  3  masses.  Rev.  Timon  preached  twice, 
57  assisted  in  the  morning  and  some  few  in  the  evening. 

28th.  We  celebrated  mass.  My  petition  that  had  been  re- 
ferred to  a  select  committee  was  brought  before  the  house  and 
referred  to  the  committee  of  the  State  of  the  Re])ul)lic.  In  the 
evening  a  great  dinner  given  to  the  Vice-President. 

29th.  We  celebrated  mass  and  took  away  our  chapel.  'J"he 
committee  of  the  State  of  the  Republic  reported  favorably  on 
my  bill. 

3nth.  Very  cold  weather.  Rain  and  .sleet,.  .My  bill  catnr 
before  the  house  at  the  re(|uest  of  Col.  Mayfield.  Messrs.  \'ati- 
Zandt,  Mayfield,  Porter  and  Houston  spoke  in  favor. 

At  the  request  of  Mr.  Van  Ness  the  church  of  the  "Alamo" 
was  struck  out  of  the  bill.  Mr.  Blow  wanted  to  reserve  also 
the  church  of  the  "Conception,"  but  was  not  supported.  The 
bill  passed  by  30  yeas  and  4  nays. 


48  HISTORY  OF  THE 

31st.  My  bill  was  carried  to  the  Senate.  General  Houston 
wanted  to  put  a  substitute  to  reclaim  the  church  of  the  "Alamo." 
We  started  from  Austin  and  rode  down  to  Mr.  Alex  Van- 
hamin's. 

Jan.  1st.  1841.  We  celebrated  mass  at  Mr.  Vanhamin's. 
Father  Timon  made  a  short  instruction.  We  started  for  Bastrop 
and  arrived  early  in  the  eveninj^;  put  up  at  Mr.  Doyle's. 

2nd.  Father  Timon  preached  in  evening  in  the  Court  House 
in  Bastrop.  In  the  morning-  we  celebrated  mass  in  Mr.  O'Con- 
nell's  house. 

3rd.  We  celebrated  mass.  Father  Timon  preached  in  the 
morning  on  the  "Real  Presence,"  and  in  the  evening  on  the 
various  points  of  our  doctrine:  "Existence  on  the  Trinity,  Pur- 
gatory, and  Confession."     Great  concourse. 

4th.  W'e  celebrated  mass  and  started  for  Houston.  We  put 
up  at  night  at  Mr.  Miller's,  a  Presbyterian  preacher.  Long  dis- 
cussion on  religion. 

6th.  We  arrived  at  San  Felipe-de-Austin  on  the  Brazos 
River  and  put  up  at  Mr.  Bollinger's.  It  was  formerly  a  place 
of  some  si;:e.  but  was  burnt  down  by  order  of  General  Sam 
Houston,  at  the  time  of  the  war. 

8th.    W^e  arrived  at  Houston  and  put  up  at  Mr.  DeChene. 

9th.  \^ery  rainy  weather,  we  went  about  through  the  mud. 
In  the  evening  we  fixed  an  altar. 

loth.  We  celebrated  mass  in  Mr.  Bernard  Careher's  store. 
P^athcr  Timon  preached  on  the  Eucharist  and  in  the  evening 
preached  in  the  old  Senate  room.  Large  audience.  We  opened 
subscription  list. 

nth.  After  having  appointed  Messrs.  Donnellan.  DeChene 
and  Careher  a  building  committee,  we  started  for  Galveston  on 
board  S.  B.  "Dayton."  We  sent  our  horses  to  Mr.  Earl's  near 
Lynchburg. 

1 2th.  We  arrived  at  Galveston  at  about  11  a.  m.  Very  rainy 
weather.  We  put  up  at  Mr.  Peter  J.  Menard  and  fixed  an  altar 
at  Menard  &  Co.'s  warehouse. 


Founder  of  Galveston. 

The  grave  of  a  man  who  belonged  in  a  peculiar  sense  to  Galveston 
may  be  found  in  the  old  Catholic  Cemetery  on  Avenue  K.  The  grave 
is  that  of  Michel  B.  Menard,  founder  of  Galveston.  It  was  Colonel 
Menard  who  in  1836,  organized  the  Galveston  City  Company,  laid  oft 
the  town  and  obtained  the  first  charter.  His  grave,  in  a  far  corner 
of  the  cemetery,  is  marked  by  a  simple  but  impressive  monument  which 
bears  this  inscription:  "Michel  B.  Menard,  born  in  Canada  Dec.  5, 
180.5.  died  in   Galveston   September  2,  1856.     .After  a  life  illustrated  by 


BISHOP  J.  M.  ODIN,  C.  M. 

First  Buliop  of  G.ilviston 


DIOCESE  OF  GALVESTON 


49 


13th.  We  celebrated  mass  and  afterward  went  about  to  visit 
the  town. 

14th.  We  celebrated  mass.  Steamship  "Neptune"  arrived 
from  Xew  Orleans  and  brought  a  nun  of  the  "\'isitation,"  by 
the  name  of  Cournace,  with  a  novice.  She  said  she  was  cominjr 
from  Wisconsin.  Miss  Mathews  was  the  name  of  the  novice. 
They  had  no  money  to  pay  for  passage.  We  advised  them  to 
return  to  New  Orleans.  Father  Timon  paid  for  them  in  the 
tavern  v.hile  at  Galveston. 

1 8th.  We  became  security  to  Mr.  N.  D.  Labadie,  for  the 
congregation  of  Galveston  to  pay  up  to  him  the  sum  of  $400  or 
the  portion  of  that  sum  which  may  be  wanting  after  he  will 
have  done  all  in  his  power  to  collect  the  subscriptions  towards 
the  building  of  the  church.  He  and  P.  J.  Menard  will  become 
securities  to  the  carpenter.     Very  cold. 

21  St.  We  celebrated  mass  early  in  the  morning.  Started  on 
a  skiff  for  Harrisburg,  but  the  current  being  too  strong,  we  took 
up  a  pack  horse  and  arrived  at  Houston  late  in  the  night,  after 
walking  9  miles,  knee  deep  in  water  and  mud. 

22nd.  We  celebrated  mass  and  paid  some  few  visits.  Dried 
(jur  clothes. 

23rd.  We  celebrated  mass  at  Houston  and  at  11  a.  m. 
started  for  Nacogdoches.  We  arrived  late  in  the  evening  at 
I'urnett's  on   Big  Cypress. 

30th.     We  arrived  late  in  the  evening  at  Nacogdoches. 

31st.  We  celebrated  mass  and  F"ather  Timon  preached  in 
the  morning  and  evening. 

February  ist,  1841.  We  celebrated  mass  and  performed 
different  duties  at  Nacogdoches. 

March  6th.  I  celebrated  mass  and  preached  at  Mr.  Pagan's  ancl 
went  to  Refugio.  Visited  the  church  and  got  it  cleaned.  I  said 
mass  at  Refugio.     Preached  and  came  back  to  Don  Carlos. 


public  and  private  virtues  he  rests  in  the  country  whose  infancy  h( 
adopted  and  in  the  city  which  he  founded.  His  deeds  are  recorUecini 
the  history  of  his  state.  His  memory  is  cmbahncd  in  the  hearts  ol  Mis 
family  and  friends.     Requiescat  in  Pace." 

The  grave  was   for  nearly  half  a  century  shaded  by  a   Riant  oak 
tree,  one  of  the  three  in  that  vicinity,  which  were  known  as  LintlmarKs 
all  over  the  island.     The  tree  was  blown   down  in   the   1000  storm  a 
shortly  afterward  the  wreck     was  removed,  the  stump  burned  out  anu 
the  present  monument  erected. 


so 


lUSTOKV  OF  THE 


"Notes  on  the  Mission  of  Refugio." 

The  mission  Del  Refugio  was  founded  for  the  Indians, 
Raran-Rawses.  It  was  first  located  on  a  spot  on  the  other 
side  of  the  Rio  Guadalupe,  about  four  and  half  miles  above  the 
junction  of  that  river,  with  the  San  Antonio  river,  about  the  year 
1700.  It  was  kept  there  for  about  3  or  4  years,  but  as  the  other 
Indians  of  the  same  tribe  who  were  not  yet  brought  to  the  Mis- 
sion, did  a  great  deal  of  damage  to  the  Mission,  it  was  removed 
to  a  point  called  Musquito's,  small  creek  3  miles  from  the  San 
Antonio  river  10  miles  from  Mr.  Fagan.  They  remained  there 
but  one  year  and  finding  the  point  of  Refugio  better,  they  then 
moved  to  Refugio,  where  they  built  houses  of  wood,  and  a  stone 
church.  That  Mission  was  under  the  care  of  the  Religous  of 
Guadalupe  of  Zacatecas,  where  all  the  Archives  are  to  be  found. 
The  first  Father  who  founded  it  was  Father  Garza.  At  Musquito, 
Father  J.  M.  Ruez.  At  Refugio,  Padre  F.  Emanuel  Selva. 
There  were  at  least  from  four  to  five  hundred  Indians ;  they  had 
a  great  deal  of  stock,  vast  fields.  The  last  Father  was  Padre 
Muro.  In  the  year  1814  it  was  destroyed  but  still  continued 
until  the  year  1825  when  it  was  impossible  to  keep  it  together 
on  account  of  the  Comanches. 


April  1 6th,  1841.  We  arrived  at  New  Orleans  at  10  o'clock 
a.  m.  I  went  to  the  Bishop's  house,  heard  of  Father  Jeanjean's 
death;  he  departed  this  life  on  the  nth,  Easter  Sunday.  During 
High  Mass  the  Bishop  handed  me  bulls  appointing  me  Bishop 
of  Claudiopolis  and  coadjutor  of  Detroit.  So  much  frightened 
that  I  could  not  read  them.  Heard  also  of  Mr.  Broyderick's 
death. 

27th.  I  said  mass  and  preached  at  the  Asylum  at  1 1  o'clock 
a.  m.     Started  for  Galveston  on  board  S.  Packet  Savannah. 

29th.     We  arrived  at  3  p.  m.  at  Galveston. 

July  4th.   1841.     I  preached  at  Galveston. 

5th.  I  wrote  to  Father  Etienne,  Father  Timon,  my  Mother, 
Mr.  Paquin  and  Bishop  Blanc.  I  gave  a  draft  for  the  church  of 
Galveston  for  $100. 

Dec.  28th.  I  started  from  San  Antonio  after  having  spent 
October,  November  and  December  in  repairing  the  old  church. 
On  the  5th  of  December  we  said  Fligh  Mass  with  the  exposition 
of  the  Blessed  Sacrament  in  thanksgiving  for  the  repairs  the 
church  had  undergone.  A  great  multitude  attended.  On  the 
1 2th  of  December,  feast  of  Our  Lady  of  Guadalupe,  great  con- 
course.    On  the  25th  I  celebrated  mass  at  San  Jose.    We  went  to 


DIOCESE  OF  GALVESTON  5 1 

Stay  all  night  at  the  rancho  of  Arrochia.     On  that  day  14  Indians 
killed  a  Mexican  at  the  Sizlitas. 

Jan.  28th,  1842.  I  said  mass  at  Mr.  Haber  Mahon's  and 
arrived  in  the  evening  at  Houston. 

30th.  I  said  mass  and  preached  in  Houston ;  assisted  a 
person  for  death. 

31st.  I  made  a  burial,  heard  some  few  confessions — 8  con- 
fessions and  6  Communions. 

Feb.  1st.     Bargained  for  planks,  for  the  church  at  Houston. 

3rd.     Started  for  Galveston. 

6th.  I  said  mass  for  the  first  time  in  the  new  church  of  St. 
Mary's  at  Galveston.  It  cost  $900  and  I  have  already  paid 
towards  it  $400.     I  spent  $20  to  fix  the  altar. 

7th.  I  heard  lo  confessions  and  gave  7  communions.  1 
made  a  burial. 

9th.  On  this  day  there  arrived  from  Havre,  the  French  ship 
Atalante  with  many  French  emigrants.  Mr.  DePliilbeaucourt 
and  lady,  Mr.  DeBaron  de  Monsabert,  Mr.  Delatre,  Mr.  Helle- 
beaut,  Goinin  and  lady ;  footman,  etc. 

17th.  I  left  Galveston  on  board  the  steamship  Neptune  for 
New  Orleans  at  12  o'clock. 

19th.  In  the  evening  we  arrived  at  New  Orleans,  where  I 
found  Mr.  Boullier. 

24th.  I  began  my  retreat  at  the  I'rsuline  Convent  previous 
to  my  consecration. 

26th.  Father  Timon  arrived  at  New  Orleans  with  Mr. 
Rolando. 

March  6th.  On  this  day  I  was  consecrated  Bishop  of  Claudi- 
opolis  and   Vicar  Apostolic   of   Texas  by   the   Rt.   Rev.   Dr.   A. 

Blanc  assisted  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Portier  and 

The  ceremony  took  place  in  the  Cathedral. 

May  nth.  1  left  New  Orleans  for  Galveston  at  11  o'clock 
a.  m.  on  board  New  York. 

13th.     Arrived  at  Galveston. 

15th.     I  preached  at  Galveston. 

17th.     r  l)OUght  Mr.  P.urgcr's  house  and  moved  into  it. 

June  12th.  1842.  I  i)rcachcd  twice.  The  sacristy  was  co\n- 
pleted  yesterday. 

Julv  4th.  I  received  letters  from  Rome  relative  to  the  Jubi-- 
lee.    lir.  Dc  Saligny  gave  $100  for  alms  and  bench  m  church. 

17th.  I  opened  and  celebrated  for  the  first  time  the  holy 
mysteries  in  the  Church  of  St.  Vincent  de  Paul  m  Houston. 
Several  members  of  Congress  present.     I  preached  twice. 


53  HISTORY  OV  THE 

Sept.  19.  Early  this  morning  between  midnight  and  i 
o'clock  a.  ni.  a  strong  north  wind,  accompanied  by  a  very  heavy 
rain;  high  tide  coming  above  the  Tremont.  Several  houses  blown 
down  and  among  them  our  church  and  that  of  the  Episcopalians. 
Mr.  Savage  and  j\Ir.  Hall  were  great  sufferers,  and  many  other 
people. 

2ist.  Mr.  Barton  reported  to  have  died  of  yellow  fever  and 
two  others  very  sick.  Today  the  positive  news  arrived  that  the 
Mexicans  had  taken  San  Antonio  on  the  nth  of  this  m'^'nth ; 
1,300  strong  under  command  of  Gen.  Woll,  fifty-three  Ameri- 
cans were  taken. 

Dec.  loth.  I  heard  three  confessions  and  gave  two  Com- 
munions. On  this  day  Mr.  Cassiano  arrived  from  San  Antonio 
on  his  way  to  New  Orleans.  On  this  day  I  bought  a  lO-acre  lot 
of  Dr.  Levi  Jones  for  the  sum  of  $500,  for  which  I  gave  him  a 
draft  on  Bishop  Blanc  payable  on  the  T5th  April. 

Feb.  5th,  1843.  I  preached,  heard  one  confession,  and  gave 
one  Communion.     The  Houston  bell  was  cast  on  this  dav. 

6th.  I  heard  one  confession  and  gave  one  Communion.  An 
election  w-as  held  for  sheriff  and  ]\[np-p.us  S.  Rndgers  was  elected. 
The  bell  was  carried  all  over  town  by  the  Germans. 

7th.  We  heard  that  the  Brazos  and  Colorado  were  overflow- 
ing. Great  many  fences,  cattle  and  houses  carried  off  and  also 
cotton  bales  floating  in  every  direction. 

nth.  We  concluded  the  work  of  the  steeple  at  Houston  and 
suspended  the  bell.  The  inscription  on  the  bell,  D.  O.  M. 
(cross)   St.  Vincenti,  era  pro  nobis,  Houston,  Texas,  1843. 

March  22nd,  1843.  For  the  first  time  I  rang  the  bell  for 
mass.  I  heard  two  confessions.  Mr.  Edward  Dwyer  came  to 
pay  me  a  visit  on  his  way  to  San  Antonio.  The  inscription  on 
the  bell  at  Galveston :  D.  O.  M.  (cross)  Sta.  Maria,  ora  pro 
nobis,  A.  M.  P. — Epco  Illmo.  ac.  Revmo.  J.  M.  Odin,  cast  by 
Schemiox  &  J.  Wilson,  Houston,  Texas,  1843. 

May  nth,  1844.  Messrs.  Paquin  and  Brands  arrived  at 
Galveston. 

Sept.  1 2th.  T  laid  the  corner  stone  of  the  church  which  is  to 
be  built  at  Castroville  on  the  Medina,  34  miles  west  of  San 
Antonio ;  we  placed  it  under  the  invocation  of  St.  Louis. 

Feb.  26th,  1846.     I  left  Galveston  on  board  the  J.  McKune. 

My  debts  at  the  end  of  the  year  1849  were  $9,555. 

April  7th,  1850.  Sunday  in  Albus,  Rev.  Father  Jacobs  died 
at  Tndianola. 

nth.     Fathers  Domeneck  and  Dubuis  arrived  at  Galveston. 

iQth.     Father  Domeneck  left  for  France. 

lune  2ist,  185T.     T  bought  an  organ,  which  cost  $800. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


BISHOP  ODIN  COMES. 

As  a  result  of  the  report  made  by  Bishop  Blanc,  the  Cardinal 
Prefect  determined,  October  29,  1839,  to  commit  religious  con- 
ditions in  Texas  to  the  zealous  ministrations  of  the  Children  of 
Vincent  de  Paul,  and  permitted  the  Superior  General  of  the  Con- 
gregation of  the  Mission  to  nominate  a  Prefect-Apostolic. 

ILLME.  ET  REV.  ME  DNE. 

Litteras  Amplitudinis  Tuae  perlegi  quas  decimoseptimo  Kalen- 

das  Septembris  conscripsisti Ad  Texas  vero  quod  attinet 

R.  D.  Cong.  Missionis  Superiori  Generali  Sacra  haec  Congregatio 

commisit,  ut  Provinciae  Praefectum  nominaret 

Amplitudinis,  etc. 

Romae  ex  aed.  Sac.  Cong,  de  Prop.  Fide 
Die  29  Octobris,    1839. 

Uti  frater,  etc. 
J.  Ph.  Card,  I'ransonius  I'raef. 

R.  P.  D.  Antonio  Blanc 
Kpo.  Novae  Aureliae. 

The  Superior  General  of  the  Lazarists  evidently  acted  at  once, 
as  on  April  12th,  1840,  l-'allior  John  Timon  was  ai)poinlc(l  Pre- 
fect-Apostolic of  Texas,  with  the  power  to  administer  confirma- 
tion and  on  May  2nd,  1840.  Father  Jean  Marie  Odin,  C.  M.,  left 
St.  Mary's  Seminary,  Perry  County,  Missouri,  for  Texas,  with 
the  title  of  Vice-Prefcct-Apostolic.     On  June  8th,  1840,  he  wrote 

"We  are  'till  at  Xcw  Orleanr,  but  we  shall  leav:-  louK'now 
morning  on  1  oard  the  schooner  Henry,  commanrle  1  by  Captain 
AuK!.''  On  July  Mth,  1840,  he  wrote  from  Lynnville  to  Father 
Timon. 


54  HISTORY  OF  THK 

(Original  in  Catholic  Archives  of  America,  Notre  Dame,  Ind. 
Case:  Lazarists,  L.  9.) 

Lvnnville,  July  the  14th,  1840. 
J.  M.  J. 
Very  Revd.  and  Dr.  Sir : 

We  arrived  at  this  place  early  yesterday.  Our  voyage  from 
New  Orleans  here  was  prosperous  enough.  We  had  some  few 
days  of  calm  weather  and  suffered  some  from  excessive  heat,  but 
we  had  always  a  very  pleasant  breeze  at  night.  Our  little  schooner 
carried  ninety-three  passengers  to  Texas.  We  had  on  board  Mr. 
O'Reilly,  a  young  Cath.  merchant  of  Victoria,  and  Mr.  Cohen. 
a  French  merch.  of  the  same  place,  who  resided  formerly  at 
Chicago.  Messrs.  Twohig  &  Galahan,  both  Cath.  merchts. 
of  San  Antonio.  They  were  very  kind  to  us.  The  other  cabin 
passengers  were  Protestants,  but  very  liberal  in  their  views. 
Two-thirds  of  the  deck  passengers  were  Irish,  French,  American 
and  Dutch  Catholic  passengers.  There  is  a  great  emigration  to- 
wards Texas.  What  was  my  surprise  on  my  arrival  at  Lynn- 
ville  to  meet  with  Mr.  Fulkerson  and  Mr.  Renfroe  of  Cape  Girar- 
deau !  They  have  put  up  a  store  at  this  place,  and  fully  satisfied 
with  their  situation;  they  purpose  sending  for  their  families  to- 
wards the  fall  of  the  year.  I  found  here  also  Judge  Hays,  who 
told  me  that  he  had  seen  you  in  Houston. 

From  what  I  have  heard  on  the  way  to  this  country,  the  con- 
duct of  the  two  Mexican  priests  of  S.  Antonio  is  shameful.  People 
have  no  confidence  in  them,  still  the  poor  Mexicans  like  them, 
though  I  hope  there  will  be  no  great  difficulty  in  removing  them. 
There  are  three  or  four  churches  in  the  vicinity  of  San  Antonio, 
which  with  very  little  expense  can  be  made  neat  and  clean.  The 
Church  of  Victoria  could  also  be  repaired,  but  there  will  be  some 
difficulty  with  the  corporation  of  the  city.  They  have  turned  it 
into  a  court  house,  and  admit  all  sorts  of  preachers  to  preach  in 
it.  I  will  speak  to  Mr.  Lynn  and  see  what  can  be  done  to  take 
possession  of  it.  There  are  many  sick  persons  at  this  time  at 
Victoria,  so  I  have  thought  it  necessary  to  leave  Mr.  Estany  for 
some  time  at  that  place,  to  take  care  of  them.  I  see  also  that  he 
forgets  his  English  as  well  as  Mr.  Calvo ;  by  being  separated  for 
a  while  they  will  improve  more  rapidly.  There  are  also  some  few 
Mexicans  at  Victoria,  and  several  families  within  18  miles  fron) 
that  place ;  he  will  take  care  of  them.  I  will  soon  proceed  on  to 
S.  Antonio  with  Mr.  Calvo  and  Br.  Sala.  We  shall  go  in  com- 
pany with  the  merchants  who  came  with  us  from  New  Orleans 


DIOCESE  OF  GALVESTON 


:d3 


and  thirty  Mexicans  who  are  hauling-  their  goods.  The  Indians 
are  so  troublesome  in  that  part  of  the  country  that  there  would  be 
no  safety  in  going  by  ourselves.  Thirty  Germans  will  be  also  in 
our  company,  so  no  danger  can  be  apprehended.  Messrs.  Clark 
and  Hayden  have  been  traveling  through  a  great  part  of  Texas, 
by  what  I  can  hear  people  seem  to  be  satisfied  with  them.  When  I 
shall  obtain  more  correct  information  I  will  let  you  know  the 
particulars. 

Give  my  best  respects  to  all   at  the   Barrens.     I   feel  verv 
anxious  to  hear  from  you. 
Very  respectfully, 

Your  obt.  and  hum.  servt. 

J.  M.  ODIN,  I.  S.  C.  M. 

Address)        \'ery  Revd.  J.  Timon, 

St.  Mary's  College, 
Perry  Co.,  Mo. 

We  know  from  his  diary  some  of  the  men  and  things  that  he 
encountered,  and  on  April  iith,  1841,  he  sunmiarized  them  for  the 
information  of  the  Superior  General  of  the  Congregation  of  the 
Mission  in  the  following  letter: 

Galveston,  Texas,  April  nth,  1841. 

(Father  J.  B.  Etienne,  Supr.  Genl.  C.  M.  Annales  de  la  Congre- 
gation de  la  Mission,  Tome  VITI,  pp.  181-211.) 

My  dear  Confrere : 

Last  year  the  Holy  See  deigned  to  confide  to  our  Congrega- 
tion the  spiritual  direction  of  the  Catholics  of  the  young  Republic 
of  Texas,  and  with  the  title  of  \'ice-Prcfect-Apostolic  1  was 
charged  with  the  New  Mission.  May  2nd,  1840,  accompanied  by 
Mc'ssrs.  Estany  and  Calvo  (priests)  and  a  lay  brother,  I  left  the 
Seminary  at  the  liarrcns  to  go  and  explore  this  new  country.  It 
was  not  without  regret  that  I  left  Missouri.  It  was  expatriation 
a  second  time  for  me,  ancl  separated  me  from  a  people  who  had 
become  very  dear  to  me  and  from  a  flourishing  institution  that 
I  had  seen  born 

As  no  means  of  transportation  was  on  our  arrival  at  Nc^\' 
Orleans  we  had  to  remain  there  six  weeks.  ( )n  the  first  of  July 
we  embarked  on  the  schooner  Ifenry  and  on  the  13th  we  arrive^l 
at  Lynnville.  Our  trip  though  short  was  sufficiently  trying  be- 
cause of  the  calms  we  encountered  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  the 
insupportable  heat  of  the  burning  sim,  and  the  crowded  cjuartcrs. 
as  we  were  one  hundred  and  thirtv  on  board. 


56  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Texas  is  situated  between  the  25th  and  35th  degree  of  latitude, 
and  93  degrees  30  minutes  and  102  degrees  longitude.  The  land 
in  general  is  of  excellent  quality,  and  no  part  of  America  possesses 
prairies  so  vast  and  extensive,  and  pasturage  so  rich  and  abun- 
dant. Woods  are  rare  especially  in  the  west.  Many  rivers  water 
the  country,  some  sufficiently  large  for  navigation.  The  exact 
number  of  the  population  is  not  known,  but  generally  it  is  agreed 
that  it  does  not  exceed  three  hundred  thousand.  Up  to  1820  there 
were  only  three  places  in  Texas  of  any  importance,  San  Antonio 
de  Bejar,  La  Bahia  or  Goliad  and  Nacogdoches.  At  that  time  the 
Mexican  government  to  attract  inhabitants  offered  a  league  of 
land  to  all  Catholic  colonists  who  were  willing  to  locate  there. 
There  came  in  consequence  a  large  number  of  people  from  the 
United  States,  for  the  greater  part  Protestants.  In  1832  the  new 
colonists  had  difficulties  with  the  Metropolis.  They  took  arms 
but  peace  was  soon  concluded.  In  1835  they  arose  a  second  time. 
Santa  Anna,  President  of  the  Republic,  marched  against  them  at 
the  head  of  a  powerful  army,  but  in  1836  the  Mexican  General 
was  taken  prisoner  and  the  colonists  declared  their  independence. 
The  United  States,  France  and  finally  England  recognized  the 
independence  of  the  young  Republic.  Mexico  was  unwilling  to 
cede  its  rights  and  obstinately  rejected  all  propositions  that  were 
presented. 

When  the  first  Spaniards  located  in  Texas,  a  century  and  a 
half  ago,  Franciscan  religious  from  Zacatecas  came  to  found  many 
missions  for  the  conversion  and  civilization  of  the  numerous  tribes 
of  savages  scattered  through  this  vast  country.  The  most  cele- 
brated were  those  of  the  Alamo  at  San  Antonio,  La  Concepcion, 
San  Jose,  L'Espada,  El  Rosario,  Espiritu  Santo,  San  Sabas,  Re- 
fugio and  Nacogdoches.  These  missions  became  very  flourishing 
and  counted  a  great  number  of  fervent  Christians.  Every  year 
the  good  Padres  went  deeper  into  the  woods,  penetrated  among 
the  different  tribes,  gaining  by  their  presence  and  demeanor,  full 
of  affability,  the  confidence  of  the  savages,  and  conducting  them 
to  the  missions,  where  they  were  trained  in  piety  and  labor.  They 
were  suppressed  in  1812  (  ?)  by  the  avidity,  so  it  is  said,  of  the 
government  leaders,  who  desired  to  appropriate  to  themselves 
the  lands  of  which  they  had  been  put  in  possession.  Today  they 
present  a  pile  of  ruins;  the  churches  especially  since  the  late  war 
are  almost  entirely  destroyed.  The  poor  savages  are  scattered, 
some  of  them  have  returned  to  Mexico.  Many  succumbed  under 
the  attacks  of  the  non-civilized  tribes,  and  others,  it  is  said,  have 
returned  to  their  primitive  habits.  The  fervor  which  I  have  found 
in  the  small  number  of  those  who  still  dwell  in  Texas  is  con- 
vincing proof  that  they  were  trained  religiously  by  skillful  men. 
Two  of  the  churches  have   withstood   the  assaults  of  time  and 


DIOCESE  OF  GALVESTON  57 

the  attacks  of  war,  and  are  of  such  beauty  that  they  do  honor  to 
the  taste  and  zeal  of  the  Missionaries. 

ReHgion  on  our  arrival  in  Texas  was  in  a  sad  state  of  abandon- 
ment and  suffering.  For  many  years  the  entire  country,  with 
the  exception  of  San  Antonio,  was  deprived  of  pastors,  and  if  from 
time  to  time  priests  had  visited  it,  far  from  reanimating  the  fervor 
and  encouraging  Catholics,  they  had  oftentimes  contributed  to 
their  affliction  by  scandals,  the  opprobrium  of  which  reflected 
upon  the  faith,  which  they  professed,  and  covered  it  with  ridicule 
in  the  eyes  of  Protestants  and  infidels.  Many  times  I  have 
blushed  at  the  recital  of  incidents. 

From  Lynnville,  the  small  port  where  we  disembarked,  we 
went  to  Victoria.  That  city,  founded  in  1825,  was  soon  inhabited 
by  three  hundred  Mexican  families,  but  in  1835  war  desolated 
the  country  and  the  citizens  were  dispersed.  It  has  commenced 
anew  to  grow ;  aside  from  the  six  or  seven  Mexican  families  who 
have  returned,  there  are  nearly  four  hundred  inhabitants,  of  whom 
half  profess  the  Catholic  faith.  Victoria  has  a  little  frame  cnurch. 
but  abandoned  for  five  years.  We  found  it  in  a  state  of  indecency 
and  neglect  that  was  certainly  unbecoming  the  celebration  of  the 
sacred  mysteries.  An  inhabitant  of  the  city  offered  his  house, 
and  we  readily  accepted.  Everyone  seemed  anxious  to  assist  at 
the  Divine  office  a/nd  the  instructions.  I  left  with  them  Mr. 
Estany,  charging  him  to  visit  the  Catholics  of  Coiito,  La  Rahia. 
Lama,  Live  Oak,  Ranchio  de  Don  Carlos,  and  those  who  dwell 
along  the  Lavaca  River,  to  the  number  of  eight  or  nine  hundred. 
The  great  distance  between  our  separated  locations  will  give  him 
enough  to  do  and  will  render  his  work  somewhat  difficult. 

From  Victoria  I  took  up  the  journey  to  San  Antonio  with 
Mr.  Calvo  and  the  lay  brother.  The  distance  is  only  one  hundred 
and  fifty  miles,  but  the  numerous  bands  of  Comanche  and  Tona- 
kanie  savages,  who  scour  the  country  without  ceasing,  render  the 
route  extremely  dangerous ;  one  does  not  undertake  the  journey 
without  incurring  evident  dangers  of  death.  We  joined  a  convoy 
of  twenty-two  wagons  which  were  transporting  merchandise.  All 
our  companions  on  the  trip  were  well  armcfl.  but  if  on  the  one 
hand  the  number  assured  us  against  the  attacks  of  the  savages, 
on  the  other,  what  misery,  what  slowness  of  march  we  were  forced 
to  endure.  The  heat  was  excessive,  and  in  the  immense  prairies 
that  we  were  compelled  to  cross  there  was  scarcely  a  bush  in  the 
shade  of  which  we  could  secure  a  moment's  repose.  In  the  even- 
ing about  sunset  we  would  take  up  our  march,  but  often  we  had 
scarcely  startcfl  when  one  of  our  wagons  wouUl  break  down. 
That  meant  a  halt  for  everybody  and  we  passed  a  great  part  of 
the  night  in  repairing.  This  occurred  often  far  from  water  and 
wc  would  have  to  cross  the  prairie,  and  we  were  happy  if  we  found 


HISTORY  OF  TIIK 


5« 

a  little  hole  where  we  disputed  with  the  frog  for  a  few  drops  of 
dirty  and  disgusting  water.  Our  provisions  were  not  over-abun- 
dant and  we  had  to  share  them  with  our  companions  on  the  trip 
still  worse  off,  and  soon  hunger  made  itself  felt  and  we  had  re- 
course to  the  hunt  at  the  risk  of  attracting  the  savages  by  the 
noise  of  our  guns.  Fever  attacked  our  ranks  and  I  had  a  touch 
myself  but  the  medicine,  which  I  brought  along  for  the  purpose, 
soon  restored  me  to  health.  The  little  help  I  was  able  to  give  to 
our  poor  sick  people,  acquired  for  me  a  very  embarrassing  repu- 
tation afterwards,  for  some  of  the  good  cart  drivers  did  not  know 
my  name  but  christened  me  "The  Father  who  knows  how  to  cure 
the  sick"  and  in  a  short  time  I  was  consulted  by  everybody_  who 
was  unwell.  Many  times  along  the  route  the  cry  "The  Indians" 
spread  terror  in  our  ranks,  but  it  was  only  a  mistake  of  the  ad 
vance  guard  and  we  arrived  at  San  Antonio  on  July  30th  without 
firing  a  shot. 

This  post,  founded  in  1678  by  Spaniards  who  came  from  the 
Canary  Islands,  has  a  population  of  about  ten  thousand  souls.  The 
towm  possesses  a  few  stone  houses  and  a  great  number  of  cabins 
covered  with  sod  and  brush.  It  is  watered  by  the  San  Antonio 
River  and  to  the  west  by  a  small  creek  and  in  the  center  by  a 
canal,  dug  by  the  Indians  under  the  direction  of  the  Missionaries, 
whose  abundant  water  irrigates  all  the  gardens.  There  is  nothing- 
more  beautiful  than  the  valley  of  San  Antonio;  an  agreeable  cli- 
mate, pure  and  healthy  air;  rich  and  fertile  soil;  everything  con- 
tributes to  make  our  stay  pleasant  in  the  midst  of  hostile  savages 
who  up  to  now  have  prevented  the  exploration  of  the  country, 
whose  resources  are  immense.  Since  its  foundation  it  has  always 
been  the  point  of  attack  of  the  Comanches  and  Tonakanies,  strong 
tribes,  cruel  and  even  cannibals.  It  has  also  been  the  theatre  of 
frequent  and  disastrous  wars,  and  that  of  the  Independence  was 
particularly  destructive.  Many  years  will  pass  before  this  un- 
fortunate country  will  be  able  to  repair  the  ruin ;  there  is  not  a 
family  that  has  not  lost  a  father,  a  son,  a  brother  or  a  husbaaid, 
scalped  without  pity  by  the  Comanches.  Not  a  month  passes  that 
these  savages  do  not  come  to  cause  fear  and  trouble,  and  by  their 
fierce  ravages  slaying  the  men  in  their  path,  and  the  animals  in 
the  fields.  Also  poverty  is  extreme,  and  if  I  ever  have  the  con- 
solation of  having  any  resources  it  will  be  without  doubt  very 
sweet  to  be  able  to  relieve  the  distress.  What  shall  I  say  of  the 
sad  state  of  religion  in  this  unfortunate  country.  There  are  still 
some  traces  of  real  Catholicity. 

For  many  years  but  a  small  number  frequented  the  holy  places, 
the  Word  of  God  was  never  preached,  the  sick  died  without  the 
last  rites  of  the  Church,  and  the  young  grew  up  in  profound  ignor- 


DIOCESE  OF  GALVESTON  59 

ance  of  the  duties  of  a  Christian.  For  fourteen  years  no  one  has 
presented  himself  at  the  tribunal  of  penance.  AH  the  functions 
of  the  ministry  consisted  in  baptizing  children,  burying  the  dead 
and  celebrating  marriages  and  the  fees  were  extremely  high. 
Their  morals  unfortunately  correspond  to  the  lamentable  state  of 
ignorance  in  which  the  precious  souls,  bought  by  the  blood  of 
Jesus  Christ,  were  permitted  to  sink.  The  church,  whose  roof 
was  burned  in  1828,  had  become  the  roosting  place  of  swallows 
and  bats,  and  gave  forth  an  odor  infectious  and  unbearable.  The 
sacristies  contained  only  vestment  cases,  dirty  and  disgusting. 

What  was  very  embarrassing  in  such  a  critical  position !  A 
stranger,  unknown,  the  first  step,  the  first  act  of  my  mission  was 
to  interdict  two  men.  born  and  raised  in  the  country,  and  related 
to  many  families  of  the  place.  I  left  myself  in  the  hands  of  Provi- 
dence and  determined  at  the  risk  of  my  life,  to  restore  things  to  a 
better  state  if  possible.  Heaven  assisted  me  in  a  wonderful  way. 
The  Sunday  after  my  arrival  I  preached,  with  the  consent  of  the 
Mexican  pastor,  in  Spanish  and  in  English,  to  a  large  crowd, 
whose  curiosity  to  see  the  new  priests  had  brought  them  to  church, 
up  to  that  time  deserted  on  feasts  and  Sundays.  On  the  next 
day  I  went  to  the  pastor's  house  and  showed  my  letters  from  the 
Holy  See  and  asked  him  to  hand  over  the  keys  and  the  church 
registers.  He  submitted  with  some  repugnance,  and  a  few  days 
afterwards  he  was  arrested  and  taken  under  escort  to  Austin  to 
render  an  account  of  secret  correspondence  which  he  had  carried 
on  with  the  chiefs  of  the  Mexican  government. 

Once  we  took  over  the  administration  of  the  Church,  we  hast- 
ened to  call  the  children  to  catechism,  to  visit  the  sick,  and  to  ful- 
fill the  other  duties  of  our  sacred  ministry.  Little  by  little  we 
gained  the  confidence  of  the  people,  and  when  the  pastor  returned 
from  Austin  he  found  everybody  in  our  favor.  Knowing  that  the 
work  of  God  is  not  solid  except  it  repose  upon  the  cross  and  its 
tribulations,  I  began  to  fear,  seeing  our  first  steps  had  sucli  happy 
and  unhoped-for  results,  that  we  were  doing  too  well.  The  storm 
was  not  long  delayed.  Abuses  contrary  to  all  the  rules  of  dis- 
cipline had  been  introduced.  It  was  permitted  to  ring  the  bells 
to  celebrate  a  victory  in  a  horse  race,  for  the  burial  of  those  not 
of  the  faith.  It  was  an  abuse  difficult  to  correct.  I  took  my  stand 
by  the  laws  of  the  Church.  In  the  meantime  a  celebrated  Protes- 
tant gentleman  died,  known  for  his  military  exploits  and  the  ser- 
vices which  he  had  rendered  to  the  country.  Some  people  came 
to  ask  that  the  bells  be  tolled.  On  my  refusal  their  heads  went  up 
in  the  air,  and  they  cried  out :  they  called  me  injurious  names. 
I  put  myself  in  the  hands  of  Providence.  I  showed  myself  kind, 
polite  but  firm  and  when  finally  they  understood  that  it  was  duty 


6o  HISTORY  OF  THE 

and  not  caprice  that  ruled  my  conduct,  they  became  calm;  the 
most  ardent  persecutors  became  the  most  devoted  friends.  A  few 
days  after  our  arrival  at  San  Antonio  a  ceremony  took  place  that 
gave  us  much  comfort  and  proved  to  us  that  there  was  still  faith 
among  the  Mexicans.  A  sick  person  in  danger  of  death  wished 
to  receive  Viaticum.  We  deemed  it  right  to  carry  the  Blessed 
Sacrament  publicly  and  with  all  the  pomp  possible.  As  soon  as 
the  bell  announced  the  ceremony  the  people  ran  in  crowds  to  the 
church,  all  accompanied  our  Blessed  Savior  in  the  streets  and  tears 
came  to  the  eyes  of  the  aged.  For  fourteen  years  they  had  not 
seen  that  consoling  act  of  our  religion.  Many  cried  out  that  they 
did  not  fear  death  since  heaven  had  sent  them  priests  who  would 
assist  them  at  that  dreadful  moment.  Truly  heaven  blessed  our 
feeble  efforts.  Deprived  for  a  long  time  of  the  word  of  God,  they 
received  it  with  avidity.  Every  day  a  great  number  assisted  at 
Mass  and  on  Sundays,  at  the  two  Masses,  there  was  considerable 
of  a  crowd.  IMore  than  a  hundred  children  came  to  catechism ; 
penitents  who  for  twenty,  thirty  and  forty  years  had  neglected 
their  Easter  duty,  presented  themselves  at  the  tribunal  of  penance, 
and  many  made  it  a  rule  to  receive  Holy  Communion  once  a 
month.  Twelve  crooked  marriages  w^ere  straightened  out  and 
we  hope  soon  to  have  no  scandals  of  that  kind.  Fond  of  danger- 
ous amusements,  they  have  promised  to  avoid  them.  I  took  heart 
to  repair  at  once  the  church  and  to  pay  the  expense  I  sold  some 
silver  ornaments  that  had  escaped  the  revolution.  The  people, 
despite  their  extreme  poverty,  showed  a  will  to  contribute  to  the 
good  work.  We  were  not  able  to  complete  the  work.  With  our 
feeble  resources  we  could  only  repair  the  roof. 

After  a  sojourn  of  three  months  in  San  Antonio,  seeing  that, 
thanks  to  God,  everything  w^as  on  a  good  footing,  I  commenced 
to  visit  the  scattered  Catholics  along  the  San  Antonio  River  to  the 
number  of  a  thousand,  and  finally  I  went  to  Seguin,  Gonzales 
and  Victoria.  My  stay  in  those  places  was  very  short,  not  being- 
able  to  separate  myself  from  my  companions  of  the  trip,  on  ac- 
count of  the  danger  of  being  killed  by  savages.  I  finally  went 
alone  along  the  Lavaca  River,  the  peril  being  less  great  in  that 
section.  I  found  more  than  seventy  people  who  at  one  time  be- 
longed to  our  Congregation  at  the  Barrens.  It  was  consoling 
to  find  myself  among  old  acquaintances,  and  to  see  that  they  had 
lost  none  of  their  faith  and  primitive  piety,  although  deprived  for 
a  long  time,  since  their  arrival  in  Texas,  of  the  succor  of  their 
religion.  _  All  presented  themselves  at  the  sacred  tribunal  and  had 
the  happiness  of  receiving  communion.  I  could  only  spend  a  week 
with  them.  From  Lavaca  I  went  to  Austin,  a  small  growing 
town  designated  to  be  the  seat  of  the  Texas  government.  Con- 
gress was  then  in  session  and  I  desired  to  obtain  from  the  legis- 
lative body  an  act  granting  to  the  Catholic  Church  all  the  church 


DIOCESE  OF  GALVESTON  6l 

buildings  that  had  been  constructed  under  the  Spanish  govern- 
ment. With  the  exception  of  Concepcion  and  San  Jose,  these  edi- 
fices are  almost  entirely  destroyed.  In  the  meantime  they  can  be 
repaired,  and  seeing  the  poverty  and  small  number  of  Catholics 
it  will  be  a  long  time  until  prosperity  gives  us  the  facility  of  build- 
ing them  anew.  Providence  caused  me  to  find  at  Austin  Mr.  de 
Saligny,  charge  d'affaires  of  his  ^laiesty,  the  King  of  France.  I 
do  not  know  how  to  tell  you  all  that  he  did  for  me.  Not  content 
with  giving  me  hospitality  during  my  stay  in  the  town,  he  deigned 
to  use  all  his  influence  in  the  interest  of  religion.  The  signal 
services  which  he  has  rendered  to  the  young  republic  have  won 
for  him  the  general  esteem  and  gained  the  confidence  and  good 
will  of  the  people  and  he  esteems  it  a  pleasure  to  be  able  to  help 
me  in  my  undertaking.  He  has  spoken  to  the  different  members 
of  Congress  of  the  justice  of  my  claims  and  has  reenforccd  it  by 
his  perseverance  and  his  efforts  to  secure  the  recognition  of  my 
rights.  His  great  devotion  to  the  cause  of  religion  has  given  him 
a  just  title  to  our  benevolent  recognition.  Father  Timon  arrived 
at  Austin  about  the  20th  of  December.  This  unexpected  visit  was 
very  agreeable  and  produced  happy  results.  On  Christmas  Day 
we  celebrated  Holy  Mass  at  which  many  members  of  Congress  as- 
sisted. All  were  well  satisfied,  but  the  place  was  so  small  that 
only  a  few  could  be  present.  The  following  Sunday  they  offered 
us  the  Senate  Chamber.  The  attendance  was  general  and  con- 
siderable and  the  eloquent  and  solid  explanation  that  Father  Ti- 
mon gave  of  the  principal  points  of  our  religion  was  received  with 
lively  satisfaction. 

From  Austin  we  went  to  Bastrop,  a  small  town  situated  on  the 
banks  of  the  Colorado.  There  are  hardly  twenty  Catholics,  but  all 
the  inhabitants,  because  the  sight  of  a  priest  was  a  novelty,  wished 
to  assist  at  the  ceremonies,  and  various  addresses  that  were  made 
seemed  to  produce  a  sensible  effect.  They  were  pleased  to  learn 
that  the  Catholic  religion  was  not  the  monstrous  thing  that  had 
been  represented  to  them. 

From  P.astrop  we  went  to  Houston,  a  town  of  three  thousand, 
of  whom  five  hundred  at  least  profess  the  Catholic  faith.  We 
offered  the  Holy  Sacrifice  of  the  Mass  in  a  private  home  but 
gave  instructions  in  the  old  government  house.  After  a  short 
sojourn  at  Houston,  we  departed  for  Galveston,  a  place  prettv 
well  populated  and  in  which  at  present  there  are  a  few  Catholic 
families.  The  lack  of  churches  in  these  places  is  a  great  obstacle 
It  is  so  difficult  to  procure  an  apartment  large  and  spacious 
enr)ugh.  There  is  great  good  to  be  done  in  these  two  towns  but 
when  shall  we  be  able  to  establish  churches.  A  simple  structure 
cotild  be  built  for  a  thousand  dollars,  but  where  can  we  procure 
the  fimds?  Although  admirably  situated  for  trade  these  two 
towns   are   in    a    state   of    financial    embarrassment   and    lack    of 


62  HISTORY  OF  THE 

trade  that  can  hardly  be  conceived  without  seeing  it.  The  most 
opulent  families  can  hardly  procure  the  money  necessary  for  liv- 
ing expenses  and  the  other  niecessities  of  life.  Poverty  is  ex- 
treme in  all  parts  of  Texas. 

At  Galveston  we  had  the  happiness  of  baptizing  one  young 
lady  reared  outside  the  Church.  She  made  her  first  Communion 
and  received  confirmation  with  most  lively  sentiments  of  faith 
aind  piety. 

Our  sojourn  in  each  place  was  short,  our  principal  object 
being  to  administer  the  most  needed  comforts  of  religion  to 
the  scattered  people  and  to  gain  an  exact  knowledge  of  the  coun- 
try and  its  needs ;  and  so,  despite  the  solicitation  of  the  people  of 
Galveston  who  desired  to  detain  us  a  long  time,  we  could  only 
give  them  a  week.  We  went  on  board  a  steamboat  for  Houston, 
where  we  had  left  our  horses.  We  went  as  far  as  Lynchburg, 
where  we  found  several  Catholic  families.  These  good  people 
had  large  children  who  had  not  been  baptized.  Our  visit  was 
a  great  consolation  and  encouraged  and  fortified  their  good 
resolutions,  and  after  some  days  with  them,  we  turned  to  Hous- 
ton. A  small  row'boat  was  the  only  means  of  transportation ; 
we  boarded  it  with  our  luggage,  but  the  river  was  running  full 
from  abundant  rains,  and  the  current  was  so  rapid  and  so  string 
that  it  was  impossible  to  row  and  advance  against  it.  Every 
moment  we  were  in  danger  of  being  swamped.  We  secured  a 
horse  to  carry  our  effects  and  on  foot  we  continued  the  journey 
across  the  inundated  prairies  and  roads  covered  with  water. 
It  was  not  a  very  agreeable  trip,  above  all  in  the  month  of 
January.  God  however  gave  us  strength.  Covered  with  mud 
and  wet  to  the  ears,  we  finally  arrived  at  Houston.  The  night 
was  spent  in  drying  our  altar  linens,  our  cassocks  and  our  brevi- 
aries, and  the  following  day  we  went  out  to  visit  the  eastern 
portion  of  Texas.  What  difficulties  and  obstacles  presented 
themselves  in  this  long  trip!  Sometimes  a  creek  was  to  be 
crossed  by  swimming,  sometimes  a  long  and  treacherous  swamp 
where  we  ran  the  danger  of  losing  our  horses.  At  one  time 
hunger  manifested  itself  and  nothing  to  appease  it,  or  a  heavy 
rain  against  which  there  was  no  protection  or  cover.  And  so, 
overcoming  a  thousand  obstacles,  we  visited  Montgomery,  Hunts- 
ville,  Cincinnati.  Crockett,  Douglas,  Nacogdoches  and  San  Au- 
gustine. Truly  we  were  compensated  by  the  eagerness  which 
the  people  of  these  different  places  manifested  to  hear  our  ser- 
mons. Neither  rain  nor  busitiess  kept  them  away.  The  con- 
course was  general  and  rarely  have  I  heard  the  word  of  God 
listened  to  with  more  joy  and  delight.  That  visit,  though  short, 
contributed  not  a  little  to  dissipate  prejudice  and  to  reawaken 
pious  sentiments  in  the  hearts  of  the  faithful.  In  1837  Nacog- 
doches had  a  pretty  strong  Catholic  population.     There  were  at 


DIOCESE  OF  GALVESTON  63 

least  three  hundred  Mexican  families,  besides  a  large  number 
of  American  Catholics,  but  in  1838  trouble  arose  between  the 
Mexicans  and  the  inhabitants,  following  which  came  a  civil  war 
and  the  poor  Mexicans  with  the  exception  of  perhaps  fifty  fami- 
lies were  killed  or  expelled.  Nacogdoches  had  then  a  wooden 
church,  today  it  is  entirely  destroyed.  I  had  occasion  to  see  in 
that  city  how  Mary  loves  to  help  those  who  place  their  trust 
in  her.  A  lady  from  Maryland  was  given,  on  her  departure  from 
that  state  to  Texas,  a  Miraculous  Medal.  Her  confessor,  when 
giving  it,  encouraged  her  to  never  miss  the  recitation  of  the 
prayer  "Oh  Mary!  conceived  without  sin,  etc."  and  said  that 
the  Blessed  Mother  would  not  let  her  die  without  receiving  the 
last  sacraments.  She  was  faithful  in  following  the  advice  given. 
For  four  years  she  was  sick  in  bed  and  often  thought  it  was  her 
last  moment,  but  her  confidence  in  Mary  made  her  hope  that 
she  would  have  before  leaving  the  world  the  happiness  of  re- 
ceiving the  Sacraments.  As  soon  as  she  heard  of  our  arrival 
she  demanded  that  we  be  called.  She  received  \'iaticum  and 
Extreme  Unction,  and  expired  a  few  days  later,  full  of  gratitude 
to  her  Benefactress. 

.\t  San  Augustine  I  ha<l  to  separate  from  Father  Timon. 
He  returned  to  the  United  States  by  way  of  Natchitoches  and 
I  returned  to  San  Antonio  by  a  new  route,  visiting  on  my  way 
.Alabama.  \Va.shington,  Independence,  Huntsville,  Rutaville,  La 
Grange,  Victoria,  El  Ranchio  de  Don  Carlos,  Refugio  and  Go- 
liad. I  arrived  the  nth  of  March,  having  made  more  than  two 
thousand  miles  of  a  journey.  The  number  of  Catholics  in  Texas 
is  pretty  close  to  ten  thousand.  Many  American  Protestants 
on  arriving  in  this  country  had  themselves  baptized  in  order  to 
secure  the  concession  of  land,  but  it  was  not  agreed  that  they 
must  follow  the  Catholic  faith,     d) 


(1)  After  the  departure  of  the  Franciscans  and  before  the  Lazar- 
ists  came,  there  appeared  at  several  places  in  Texas  Irish  priests,  and 
the  memories  of  Father  Doyle  and  Father  Muldoon  survive.  We  could 
find  nothing  regarding  Father  Doyle,  but  we  do  know  that  Rev.  MiKuei 
Muldorm  was  "parish  curate"  at  Austin  in  IH.'n,  and  that  he  was  piven 
a  grant  of  eleven  leagues  of  land  by  the  Supreme  Government  of  the 
State  of  Coahuila  and  Texas  on  February  4th,  1831,  from  the  vacant 
domain  of  the  State  in  such  locality  as  might  best  suit  him  and  lh;it 
as  a  portion  of  that  concession  he  selected  two  leagues  of  land  in  (i.il- 
vcston  County  known  in  the  ab'stract  as  "The  Muldoon  Two-League 
Grant."  because  it  suited  his  "interest  to  own  lands  near  the  coast." 
In  183.1  the  Rev.  Doctor  Miguel  Muldoon  of  the  City  of  Mexico  gave 
to  Stephen  F.  .Austin,  Impressario.  "his  devoted  friend,"  the  pov,  rr  of 
attorney. to  sell  his  eleven  leagues  of  land  and  on  the  I2th  of  Drrember 
Gail  Borden  Jr.,  acting  on  a  power  of  attorney  given  him  bv  Austin, 
sold  the  entire  eleven  leagues  for  .^.-inoo.OO  to  Peter  W.  Grayson.  There 
were  many  "Muldoon  Catholics"  in  Texas.     Like  the  term  "Maverick 


64  HISTORY  OF  THE 

This  manner  of  acting  was  not  the  result  of  conviction  ;  it 
was  only  to  conform  to  the  law  and  the  greater  part  received 
baptism  without  knowing  Catholic  doctrine,  so  I  would  not  dare 
to  include  them  in  the  number  of  our  Catholics.  Prejudice  against 
our  religion  is  quite  strong  in  some  parts  of  Texas,  in  others  there 
is  very  much  indifference.  I  hope  that  when  the  country  shall 
possess  a  greater  number  of  laborers  (priests)  there  will  be  many 
conversions.  In  this  country  as  in  the  United  States  there  will  be 
much  need  of  instruction  and  then  little  by  little  prejudice  will 
disappear.  There  are  also  in  Texas  a  great  number  of  savage 
tribes  with  whom  it  will  be  necessary  to  labor.  The  Comanches 
are  at  least  twenty  thousand  in  number,  then  come  the  Tona- 
kanies,  the  Lipans,  the  Tankanies,  the  Bidais,  the  Caronkaways, 
the  Nacoes  and  many  other  tribes. 

The  greater  part  of  these  savages  are  cannibals ;  they  love  to 
eat  human  flesh.  The  feet  and  the  hands  above  all  are  their 
favorite  dish.  I  have  already  made  some  attempts  among  the 
Caronkoways  to  reunite  them  in  a  Mission.  Mr.  Estany  has  gone 
to  visit  them  and  they  desire  very  much  to  have  a  priest.  It  was 
for  them  that  the  Mission  of  Refugio  was  first  founded.  As 
they  have  no  land  and  live  by  fishing  on  the  shore  of  the  Gulf, 
it  will  be  necessary  to  get  a  league  of  land  and  construct  houses 
and  a  chapel  and  they  may  come  later  to  settle  there.  But  what 
can  be  done  without  money?  The  Comanches  will  be  very  diffi- 
cult to  win.  From  the  origin  of  Texas  they  have  always  been 
at  war  with  the  civilized  inhabitants,  and  the  other  tribes.  Ready 
horsemen,  adroit  thieves,  they  throw  the  arrow,  the  lance  with 
the  greatest  dexterity.  In  small  bands  of  ten,  twenty,  thirty  or 
fifty  they  run  through  the  country  incessantly.  They  hold  them- 
selves on  the  highest  places  and  when  they  discover  a  party  of 
travelers  too  weak  to  resist  them  they  fall  upon  them  with  the 
rapidity  of  lightning  and  scalp  them  unpityingly.  It  would  be 
impossible  to  say  how  many  unfortunate  people  have  succumbed 

they  took  their  name  from  Miguel  Muldoon,  who  had  no  qualms  of 
conscience  in  either  baptizing  them  or  giving  them  baptismal  certifi- 
cates even  though  he  had  not  conferred  the  sacrament.  To  hold  land, 
under  the  colonist  arrangement  made  with  Stephen  Austin,  Impres- 
sario,  the  State  of  Coahuila  and  Texas  demanded  a  certificate  of  Cath- 
olic baptism.  Father  Muldoon  is  credited  by  tradition  with  having 
baptized  Stephen  F.  Austin  and  most  of  his  colonists.  Personally  I 
have  known  Captain  J.  C.  Borden  of  Galveston,  who  was  that  type  of 
Catholic.  Father  Muldoon  seems  to  have  been  fortified  with  quasi- 
pastoral  authority  by  the  Bishop  of  Linares,  and  he  was  the  devoted 
friend  of  the  colonists  who  came  from  the  United  States  with  Stephen 
Austin.  He  seems  to  have  viewed  the  civil  requirements  of  baptism 
as  uncalled  for,  and  where  there  was  question  of  securing  the  posses- 
sions of  his  friends,  when  a  mere  technicality  would  void  their  titles, 
he  furnished  the  certificates. 


ST.   MARY'S  CATHIiDKAL 

Corner  stone  laid   M.ircl)    14,    1S47 


DIOCESE  OF  GALVESTON  65 

under  this  treatment  and  how  many  women  and  children  have 
been  carried  away  prisoners.  A  short  time  before  my  arrival 
in  Texas,  a  party  from  five  to  six  hundred  penetrated  even  to 
Lynnville.  The  inhabitants  of  the  place,  who  did  not  expect  this 
visit,  were  compelled  to  take  refuge  in  Lavaca  Bay  in  order  to 
secure  for  themselves  protection  from  their  arrows.  Seven  or 
eight  were  killed  and  a  young  woman,  married  only  ten  days 
before,  after  seeing  her  husband  fall  at  her  side  pierced  with 
arrows,  was  made  prisoner.  The  warehouse,  filled  with  mer- 
chandise, was  despoiled,  and  after  searching  most  carefully  for 
every  kind  of  booty,  the  town  was  given  to  the  flames.  I  lost 
by  that  affair  many  books  and  church  articles.  The  animals  even 
were  not  spared ;  they  seized  all  the  horses  and  mules  and  dis- 
emboweled the  other  cattle.  From  Lynnville  they  went  to  Vic- 
toria. The  first  house  attacked  was  the  one  in  which  our  con- 
frere, Mr.  Estany,  was  stopping.  He  passed  through  the  incident 
without  being  wounded,  but  they  took  all  that  he  had,  linens, 
books,  ornaments,  nothing  was  saved.  There  were  some  deaths, 
women  and  children  were  taken  prisoners  before  the  savages  were 
forced  to  take  their  departure  Soon  the  alarm  spread  through 
the  country.  Everybody  took  arms  and  pursued  them  vigorously ; 
they  met  near  the  Plumbercock  and  San  Marcos  rivers  and  there 
was  a  bloody  combat.  Eighty-four  Comanches  lost  their  lives  and 
a  great  number  of  others  of  them  could  not  long  survive  the 
wounds  they  received.  The  wicked  savages  attempted  on  the 
approach  of  the  Texans  to  slay  all  the  prisoners  that  they  had 
taken.  A  poor  mother  who  had  fallen  into  their  hands  with  her 
small  child  scarcely  ten  months  old,  had  the  sorrow  of  seeing  her 
child  crushed  before  her  eyes  and  then  she  herself  was  pierced 
with  arrows.  Their  attacks  against  San  Antonio  and  the  sur- 
rounding country  are  very  frequent.  Nothing  more  terrifying 
to  the  ears  of  women  and  children  than  their  cry.  1  have  counted 
in  the  space  of  two  months  nearly  two  hundred  people  scalped 
by  these  savages.  Horses  disappear  every  day.  They  have  taken 
two  of  mine. 

Heaven  has  conmicnccd  to  bless  our  feeble  labors.  I'Voin  the 
9th  of  August.  1840.  to  the  ist  of  March,  1841,  we  have  heard 
nine  himdred  and  eleven  confessions.  There  have  been  four  hun- 
dred and  seventy-eight  comnumions,  two  hundred  and  eighty-one 
baptisms,  twenty-four  marriages,  forty-five  burials,  thirty-one  fir-t 
communions,  eight  confirmations,  fifteen  baptisms  of  I'rotestant 
chilrjren  and  six  converted  adults.  We  have  built  a  small  chapel 
at  the  Ranchio  de  Don  Carlos  and  repaired  that  of  N'ictona  and  m 
part  that  of  San  Antonio.  The  good  of  religion  demands  at  once 
chapels  at  Galveston,  Houston.  Nacogdoches.  San  Augu.sttne. 
Lavaca  and  at  the  Capital  of  the  country.  Austin,  but  where 
shall  we  finrl  the  means?-     We  are  altogether  without  resources 


66  lliSTUUV   OF  THE 

The  people  are  poor  and  the  expense  of  travel  considerable.  In 
the  course  of  my  trip  I  have  spent  the  night  in  the  woods  and  in 
tlie  open  prairie.  I  have  done  my  own  cooking,  and  yet  my 
expenses  are  heavy,  and  finally  I  have  had  to  pay  twenty-four 
dollars  to  two  armed  men  to  accompany  me  for  three  months. 
There  ought  to  be  schools  at  San  Antonio  and  at  Galveston,  but 
how  can  we  raise  the  first  cost  ?  We  are  often  without  a  lodging 
place,  and  are  obliged  to  seek  hospitality  from  Catholics  and 
P'rotestants  and  are  often  compelled  to  recite  our  office  amidst 
the  cries  of  children  or  in  the  shining  sun  in.  the  open  prairie. 
In  Texas  one  learns  how  to  be  a  Missionary.  I  believed  that  I 
had  already  served  long  as  an  apprentice  but  since  my  arrival  here 
I  see  well  that  I  was  not  even  initiated. 

Good-bye,  dear  Confrere,  and  sometime  soon  I  shall  give  other 
details  of  our  Mission. 

Your  ever  devoted  servant, 

J.  M.  ODIN.  I.  S.  C.  M. 

The  letter  of  Father  Odin  and  the  report  of  Father  Tinion 
had  impresseil  the  Congregation  of  the  Propaganda  with  the 
merits  of  the  Prefect-Apostolic  of  Texas,  and  Father  Odin  was 
named  Bishop  of  Claudiopolis  and  Co-Adjutor  Bishop  of  Detroit. 

Monsieur  J.  Timon, 
Rue  de  Sevres,  No.  95, 
Paris. 

Houston.  ]6  July,  1841. 
Very  Rev.  and  Dear  Sir : 

I  arrived  last  night  at  this  place,  and  found  the  people  in  pretty 
low  spirits.  Everything  looks  dull.  No  money  in  the  country, 
people  move  back  to  the  States  much  faster  tha,n  they  came  in. 
Every  steamboat  going  to  New  Orleans  carries  a  great  many 
passengers.  My  intention  was  to  spend  the  summer  and  fall  at 
Galveston  and  Houston,  but  until  churches  are  built  in  both 
places,  little  can  be  effected.  I  have  then  thought  that  my  best 
plan  would  be  to  go  about  through  the  country  and  visit  the  few 
scattered  families  that  are  to  be  found  mostly  in  every  place. 
Next  Tuesday  I  will  start  out  to  go  to  Fort  Bend  County.  I  per- 
ceive also  that  we  are  very  unwelcome  guests  in  every  house,  if 
our  stay  is  beyond  a  few  days.  To  speak  to  you  candidly.  I  think 
that  it  will  never  do  for  us  to  pretend  to  leave  our  priests  to  the 
charity  of  lay  people.  At  Galveston  and  Houston,  Nacogdoches 
and  at  every  other  point  where  clergmen  will  have  to  be  stationed 
a  house  must  be  provided  for  the  priest,  and  some  means  furnished 
for  his  maintenance.  The  spirit  of  our  vocation  will  soon  be  lost 
if  we  have  to  be  amongst  seculars  all  the  time,  if  we  have  not  a 


DIOCESE  OF  GALVESTON  67 

little  room  where  we  can  retire  to  make  a  spiritual  reading,  &c. 
The  cold  reception  you  meet  with,  the  small  piece  of  bread  they 
seem  to  regret  to  give  you,  all  this  is  enough  to  discourage  any 
man. 

Mr.  Stehle  started  last  Monday  for  the  States.  I  did  my  best 
to  make  him  stay  until  my  return  from  my  little  tour,  but  could 
not  prevail  on  him. 

The  church  here  is  not  begun,  and  there  is  no  prospect  of  its 
being  soon  undertaken.  I  am  informed  that  the  best  among  them 
have  scarcely  money  to  go  to  market.  Still  a  church  is  indis- 
pensable.   What  shall  we  do? 

As  I  informed  you,  Dr.  Labadie  was  going  to  give  up  the 
Church  at  Galveston,  when  I  arrived;  out  of  my  little  means,  I 
gave  him  $100.00.  Yesterday  morning  he  came  to  me  again  and 
told  me  that  he  was  still  without  any  hope  of  pushing  on  the 
church,  because  he  could  hardly  get  enough  out  of  his  daily  sales 
for  the  support  of  his  family.  He  has  had  a  great  many  debts 
to  pay,  his  stock  of  goods  is  quite  small,  and  it  is  impossible  for 
him  to  advance  much.  When  I  saw  that  I  wrote  to  Mr.  Moni 
to  send  me  the  window  glass  and  the  nails,  and  to  Mr.  Manhaut, 
the  oil  and  white  lead,  promising  them  to  say  Masses  for  the 
cost.  Perhaps  they  will  assist  me  in  that  way  and  the  church  will 
in  that  case  be  more  speedily  completed.  I  am  really  out  of  heart. 
In  the  States  a  log  church  may  at  least  be  put  up.  but  here  in 
Texas  there  is  nothing  to  be  done  without  money,  and  money  can 
be  had  nowhere. 

The  crops  on  the  Colorado  and  in  many  of  the  northern  places 
have  failed  in  a  great  measure;  sickness  has  been  quite  fatal  on 
the  Brazos,  Colorado  and  Trinity,  great  many  have  died  especially 

at and  in  Fort  Bend  County. 

The  Church  of  the  Lavaca  is  going  on  slowly. 
Judge  Webb,  who  was  sent  to  Mexico  to  treat  with  the  gov- 
ernment, could  get  no  admission.     The  people  here  seem  to  be 
very  much  offended ;  they  speak  a  great  deal  of  going  to  war. 
but  T  think  that  all  the  fighting  will  be  done  in  their  meetings. 

Prav  .Almightv  God  to  give  me  the  necessary  courage  and  zeal. 
My  health  is  not'  very  good.  The  heat  and  water  do  not  agree 
very  well  with  me  at  this  .season  of  the  year.     My  respects  tr)  all. 

Very  respectfully. 
Your  obedient  and  humble  servant. 
J.  M.  ODTX.  I.  S.  C.  M. 


68  HISTORY  OV  THK 

Upon  receipt  of  the  following  letter,  Bishop  Blanc  wrote  to 
h'ather  Odin  to  come  to  New  Orleans  at  once. 

Illme  at  Revme  Dne. 

His  lileris  Amp.  Tua  adiectum  reperiet  litcrarum  fasciculnm. 
quem  Sacra  haec  Cong,  dat  ad  R.  P.  D.  loannem  Mariam  Odin, 
modo  Mcarium  Apostolicnm  Ditionis  Texas  designatum.  Te 
itaque  rogo  ut  eumdem  fasciculum  ei  mittas  quamprimum  nb.- 
cumqne  enm  morari  reperiveris,  ac  deinde  de  eiiisdem  receptione 
ct  ad  R.  P.  D.  Odin  transmissione  Cong,  certiorem  facerc 
dedigneris. 

Romae  ex  aed.  S.  Cong,  de  Prop.  Fide  die  31  Inlii,  1841. 
J.  Ph.  Card.  Fransonius,   Praef. 
Uti,  etc. 
R.  P.  D.  Antonio  Blanc, 
Epo   Novae  Anreliae. 

Illustrious   Sir: 

To  these  letters  your  Lordship  will  find  annexed  a  bundle  of 
letters  which  this  Sacred  Congregation  gives  to  the  Reverend 
Father  John  Mary  Odin,  designated  sometime  ago  Vicar-Apos- 
tolic of  the  Dominion  of  Texas.  I  ask  that  you  send  this  packet 
to  him  as  soon  as  possible,  wherever  you  shall  have  found  him 
to  be  staying  ^n^d  that  you  shall  not  fail  to  inform  this  Congre- 
gation of  its  reception  and  transmission  to  Rev.  Father  Odin. 
Rome,  The  Cong,  de  Prop.  Fide,  31st  July,  1841. 

J.  PH.  CARDINAL  FRANSONIUS,  Prefect. 

To  Anthony  Blanc. 
Bishop  of  New  Orleans. 

Father  Odin  tells  this  story  in  the  following  letter  to  Father 
J.  B.  Etienne.  Proc.  Genl.  C.  M.  (Annales  de  la  Congregation  de 
la  Mission,  Tome  YHI,  pp.  213-231.) 

Galveston,  Feb.  7,  1842. 
My  Dear  Confrere : 

For  a  long  time  I  desired  to  write  you  but  almost  continual 
trips,  and  the  difficulty  of  procuring  a  table  or  an  apartment  in 
the  places  where  I  made  a  short  stop,  have  deprived  me  of  that 
pleasure.  I  have  not  yet  a  fixed  residence  in  Texas.  I  go  from 
house  to  house  and  all  the  time  I  can  give  in  each  neighborhood 
is  employed  in  teaching  catechism,  giving  instructions  or  ad- 
ministering the  Sacraments.  Here  I  am  on  my  return  to  Galves- 
ton, they  have  given  me  a  small  room  and  I  profit  by  the  first 
opportunity  to  give  you  the  information  regarding  our  mission 
in  Texas. 


DIOCESE   OF    GALVESTON  69 

Last  year  i  wrote  you  rather  fully  about  our  first  labors  in 
this  Republic'  I  hope  that  you  received  my  letter.  A  little  time 
after  I  sent  it,  JMonsignor  Blanc  wrote  me  to  come  immediately 
to  New  Orleans  to  receive  important  news  that  he  wished  to 
communicate  to  me  from  the  Holy  See.  What  was  my  surprise 
on  arriving  at  his  house  to  hear  that  I  had  been  named  Co-Adjutor 
to  Detroit.  The  desire  of  His  Holiness  was  that  I  should  accept 
this  very  responsible  obligation  without  hesitancy.  I  could  not 
determine,  the  intimate  conviction  of  my  own  unworthiness  and 
incapacity  caused  me  to  send  back  the  Bulls  and  after  a  short 
sojourn  in  the  United  States,  I  set  out  again  for  Texas.  My 
intention  was  to  pass  the  summer  in  Galveston,  but  after  spending 
three  weeks  preparing  for  their  Easter  duty  those  who  had  not 
yet  fulfilled  the  precept,  I  was  told  that  the  house  which  served 
me  as  a  chapel  was  to  be  occupied  by  a  family  recently  arrived 
in  the  country.  Not  wishing  to  move  the  altar,  having  already 
moved  from  garret  to  garret,  I  believed  that  while  awaiting  the 
construction  of  a  small  frame  church  that  had  been  started,  my 
time  would  be  more  usefully  employed  in  visiting  the  Catholics 
dispersed  here  and  there  in  the  districts. 

I  went  to  Houston.  Sickness  manifested  itself  and  all  who 
were  indisposed  hastened  to  reconcile  themselves  with  God,  and 
many  presented  themselves  at  the  tribunal  of  penance  and  at  the 
communion  table.  In  the  meantime  the  apartment  that  I  occupied 
was  converted  into  a  dancehall  and  I  had  to  proceed  further. 

On  the  banks  of  the  Brazos,  thirty  miles  from  Houston,  there 
live  twenty  Catholic  families  who  came  some  years  since  from 
Kentucky  and  Missouri.  I  had  not  been  able  to  visit  them  and 
I  was  edified  with  the  zeal  and  cordiality  with  which  they  re- 
ceived me.  Every  one,  from  children  to  old  men,  went  to  confes- 
sion. There  were  some  sick  in  every  household.  I  celebrated 
Mass  in  each  home  to  give  them  the  comfort  of  assisting  at  the 
Holy  Sacrifice.  On  Sunday  I  celebrated  in  the  most  central  house 
and  a  great  number  of  Protestants  came  to  assist  at  the  instruc- 
tions. They  desired  to  build  a  small  chapel  but  lacked  the  moans. 
I  hope  that  later  on  I  can  accomplish  it.  A  Protestant  gentleman 
who  had  been  sick  for  a  long  time  asked  me  to  visit  him.  \Vc  had 
long  discussions  upon  religion,  and  finally  he  embraced  our  Holy 
Faith.  When  I  felt  that  he  was  sufficiently  instructed  I  adnu'nis- 
tered  the  Sacraments  and  T  have  since  learned  that  he  died  in  a 
most  edifying  manner.  I  left  tliis  very  hosfjitable  place  to  go 
to  Mill  Oeek,  between  the  iJra/.os  and  Colorado,  but  on  the  second 
day  of  the  trip  I  was  taken  down  with  fever,  accompanied  by 
almost  continual  vomiting.  Finding  myself  in  a  spar.sely  popu- 
lated district  where  I  knew  no  one,  I  determined,  despite  the 
fever,  to  go  to  the  Lavaca  River,  where  some  colonists  live,  who 
had  formerly  resided  in  Missouri.     Tt  was  sixtv-five  miles  awa^- 


TO  HISTORY  OF  THK 

and  you  can  imagine  how  I  suffered  from  the  heat  of  a  burning 
sun,  from  lack  of  water  and  running  a  temperature  and  on  the 
second  day  I  thought  my  end  was  at  hand. 

I  saw  in  the  distance  smoke  and  presumed  I  would  find  a 
house.  I  hurried  in  that  direction  and  found  a  family  recently 
arrived  from  Michigan.  They  gave  me  every  assistance  that  the 
most  tender  charity  could  suggest.  I  passed  the  night  under  their 
tent  and  the  following  morning  continued  my  journey  and  reached 
my  old  friends  from  Missouri 

Finding  at  Victoria  travelers  who  were  going  to  San  Antonio, 
I  joined  them,  convinced  that  the  salubrious  air  of  that  beautiful 
valley  would  restore  my  former  strength.  The  heavy  rains  that 
fell  during  the  trip  threw  me  into  a  decline,  and  I  was  obliged 
to  spend  a  longer  time  at  San  Antonio  than  I  had  contemplated. 
In  order  not  to  lo:<e  time  I  began  to  direct  the  repairs  of  the 
church  which  were  under  way.  We  found  it  in  a  very  bad  state. 
We  accomplished  the  task.  All  the  interior  was  replastered.  We 
cut  five  new  entrances,  built  a  sanctuary  and  a  communion  rail 
and  on  the  outside  restored  the  bell-tower  and  the  front  and  closed 
all  the  breaks  which  the  cannon  had  made.  The  work  received 
the  hearty  .sympathy  of  the  people  and  the  Protestants  showed 
themselves  as  generous  as  Catholics,  but  the  greater  part  of  the 
expense  fell  upon  me,  and  I  was  compelled  to  contract  debts. 
On  the  5th  of  December  we  sang  a  High  Mass  with  exposition  of 
the  Blessed  Sacrament  to  thank  heaven  for  the  work  we  had  just 
finished." 

Father  Odin  gives  in  this  letter  a  brilliant  description  of 
the  celebration  of  the  feast  of  Our  Lady  of  Guadalupe,  Decem- 
ber 1 2th,  1 84 1. 

"I  left  San  Antonio  on  December  27th  to  visit  the  different 
stations  formed  in  the  western  portion  of  Texas." 

The  Comanches  were  on  the  warpath,  but  despite  many  close 
calls  he  reached  Goliad. 

"I  made  only  a  short  stop  at  Goliad,  at  the  Ranchio  de  Don 
Carlos  and  near  the  mouth  of  the  San  Antonio  River.  Mr.  Es- 
tany  had  visited  these  different  places  a  short  time  before.  1 
spent  five  days  at  Victoria,  preaching  once  or  twice  a  day.  Many 
persons  who  had  not  been  to  the  Sacraments  in  six,  eight,  ten  and 
even  fourteen  years,  went  to  confession.  From  Victoria  I  went 
to  the  Lavaca  River,  which  I  followed  almost  to  its  source,  to 
Brushy  Creek  and  to  Navidad.  where  I  stopped  two  or  three 
days.  Having  met  some  Catholics  on  this  trip  I  gave  communion 
to  one  hundred  and  fifty  and  the  number  of  confessions  was 
greater. 


DIOCESE   OF    GALVESTON  7 1 

"I  hoped  on  arriving  at  Houston  to  find  a  small  chapel.  I 
had  left  a  hundred  dollars  to  buy  the  first  material,  hoping  that 
when  the  work  was  commenced  they  would  make  some  effort  to 
complete  it  but  as  soon  as  the  amount  was  spent,  they  stopped 
the  work.  After  some  search  I  found  a  small  apartment,  erected 
an  altar  and  called  together  the  small  flock.  There  were  some 
confessions  and  comunions.  I  spent  some  days  in  an  effort  to 
arouse  their  zeal  to  build  the  church,  and  when  I  received  fine 
promises  upon  which  I  can  place  little  reliance,  I  left  for  Galves- 
ton. I  had  the  consolation  of  offering  the  Holy  Sacrifice  in  the 
chapel  which  had  just  been  constructed  at  Galveston.  I  could  not 
restrain  my  tears  when  I  thought  that  at  least  our  Divine  Lord 
had  a  small  sanctuary  in  a  country  where  up  to  now  we  had  been 
compelled  to  carry  the  altar  from  house  to  house.  I  now  regret 
that  it  is  so  small ;  it  will  not  hold  all  those  who  desire  to  assist 
at  the  divine  offices.  It  is  only  fifty  feet  long  and  twenty-two 
feet  in  width.  It  is  not  plastered;  we  have  not  even  a  small  bell- 
tower  ;  it  is  a  large  room,  rather  than  a  church.  The  structure 
cost  $900.00,  and  I  had  to  pay  $700.00.  I  cannot  accuse  the 
people  of  bad  will,  the  poverty  of  the  country  renders  it  impos- 
sible almost  for  them  to  procure  the  necessities  of  life,  and  so  it 
has  been  impossible,  despite  their  good  will,  to  make  any  but  a 
small  offering  for  religion. 

"Thanks  to  God,  I  have  succeeded  since  last  spring  in  repair- 
ing the  churches  at  San  Antonio  and  \'ictoria  and  building  two 
new  chapels  on  the  banks  of  the  San  Antonio  River,  one  on  the 
Lavaca  and  a  fourth  here  at  Galveston.  These  different  enter- 
prises have  cost  more  than  two  thousand  dollars.  I  have  had  to 
make  debts,  but  Providence  will  come  to  my  relief. 

"Mr.  Calvo  at  San  Antonio  and  Mr.  Estany  at  Ranchio  do 
Don  Carlos  labor  with  much  zeal.  God  seems  to  bless  their 
efforts.  Mr.  Estany  visits  regularly  seven  places,  not  large  it  is 
true,  but  destined  one  day  to  become  very  important.  Mr.  Clark 
is  in  charge  of  the  church  at  Lavaca  and  a  small  school  for  chil- 
dren. He  visits  also  from  time  to  time  \'ictoria  and  Tcxana. 
We  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  Mr.  Hayden  (priest)  in  October. 
He  died  at  the  mouth  of  the  San  Jacinto  River  two  hundred  nnlcs 
from  any  confrere.  He  is  a  great  loss  to  the  growmg  church 
of  Texas.  He  was  of  immense  help  in  visiting  the  .scattered 
Catholics. 

"Texas  has  passed  through  f right ful  scenes  durnig  the  pa.st 
year.  The  Indians  have  slain  many  unfortunate  travelers  and 
bands  of  robbers  have  committed  many  murders  and  depredations. 

Your  verv  humble  and  obedient  servant. 
T.  M.  ODIN. 


72  HISTORY  OF  THK 

Despite  his  reluctance  to  be  consecrated  a  Bishop,  Father  Odin 
was  compelled  to  yield.  In  a  letter  to  Father  J.  B.  Etienne  (An- 
nales  de  la  Congregation  de  la  Mission,  Tome  VIII,  pp.  233-237) 
he  describes  the  selective  draft.  There  is  no  copy  of  the  Bulls  at 
Galveston,  New  Orleans,  nor  in  the  Archives  of  the  Lazarists  in 
this  country.  We  know  that  the  old  title  of  Bishop  of  Claudiopoli.s 
was  retained  and  that  he  was  elevated  to  be  Vicar-Apostolic  of 
Texas. 

New  Orleans,  March  28,  1842. 
My  Honored  Confrere : 

I  am  writing  from  New  Orleans.  His  Holiness  has  refused 
to  accede  to  my  wishes,  and  the  Bulls  which  I  sent  back  to  Rome 
were  expedited  anew  and  arrived  here  the  eleventh  of  last  Oc- 
tober. The  letters  of  His  Holiness  Father  Fransoni  were  so  in- 
sistent, and  the  desire  of  our  Holy  Father  so  formal,  that  I  could 
not  refuse  a  second  time.  Despite  all  the  repugnance  that  I  had 
shown,  I  had  to  make  the  sacrifice,  and  accept  a  burden  almost 
unbearable  and  far  above  my  strength.  I  was  consecrated  by 
Mgr.  Blanc,  assisted  by  Mgrs.  Portier  and  Chance,  on  the  6th  of 
March  in  the  Cathedral  of  this  city.  Pray  for  me  and  have  pray- 
ers said  that  I  may  obtain  the  graces  that  I  need  to  carry  this  new 
burden  and  to  fulfil  the  duties  confided  to  me. 

A  few  days  after  consecration  I  received  sad  news  from  our 
mission  in  Texas.  Mexico,  which  never  agreed  to  recognize  the 
independence  of  the  Republic,  has  tried  to  reconquer  it.  The 
Mexican  army  has  already  penetrated  to  San  Antonio,  which  it 
took  without  the  least  resistance.  Detachments  marched  again.st 
Goliad,  X'ictoria  and  Matagorda.  'Tis  believed  that  the  forces 
amount  to  twenty  thousand  men.  The  Texans  ran  to  arms  from 
all  sides.  The  women  and  children  have  taken  to  flight  from 
the  western  parts  and  have  retired  to  the  Colorado  to  avoid  falling 

into  the  hands  of  the  Mexicans The   Indians  have 

profited  by  the  general  confusion  to  commit  depredations 

I  do  not  know  what  has  become  of  our  Confreres.  They  are  pre- 
cisely in  that  portion  of  the  invaded  country.  All  our  beautiful 
beginnings  and  our  sweet  hopes  for  the  future  lie  in  that  direc- 
tion. We  have  organized  a  number  of  stations  which  gave  prom- 
ise of  becoming  flourishing  parishes,  and  in  an  instant  all  is  de- 
stroyed ! 

The  will  of  God  be  done !  I  expect  to  leave  for  Galveston  in 
a  few  weeks.  My  intention  was  to  seek  religious  women  to  place 
in  San  Antonio  and  priests  for  the  Caronkoways'  Mission  and  for 
Houston  and  Nacogdoches,  but  the  confused  state  of  the  country 
has  caused  me  to  renounce  my  purpose.     I  shall  try  if  it  is  pos- 


DIOCESE   OF   GALVESTON  73 

sible  to  have  Messrs.  Calvo  and  Estany  come  to  me.     It  is  barely 
possible  that  we  shall  have  to  take  flight 

I  was  astonished  on  arriving  at  New  Orleans  to  find  that 
Father  Timon  had  already  arrived  from  Europe  on  the  14th  of 
January,  and  I  had  a  few  days  afterwards  the  consolation  of 
greeting  him.  He  gave  me  your  letter,  that  of  ]\Ir.  Possou  and 
the  different  objects  that  you  and  the  Sisters  of  Charitv  had  the 
goodness  to  send  me,  also  the  funds  that  you  had  decided  to  allo- 
cate to  our  mission  in  Texas.  I  thank  you  very  sincerely,  and 
ask  you  to  express  to  the  good  Sisters  my  thanks.  I  paid  at  once 
all  the  debts  that  I  had  contracted  last  year,  and  I  shall  try  to 
take  the  best  possible  care  of  the  needs  of  all  our  Confreres. 

I  beg,  etc. 

J.  M.  ODIN, 
Bishop  of  Claudiopolis  and  Vicar-Apostolic  of  Texas. 

The  disturbed  condition  of  Texas  continued  and  the  Texas 
Militia  in  those  early  days  functioned  somewhat  true  to  form,  as  is 
shown  in  the  following  letter  to  Father  Timon.  (Original  in 
Catholic  Archives  of  America,  Notre  Dame,  Ind.  Case  Lazar- 
ists,  L.  32.) 

Galveston,  June  20th,  1842. 
Rev.  John  Timon, 
St.  Mary's  College, 
Perry  County,  Mo. 

Very  Rev.  and  Dear  Sir : 

I  have  not  had  the  pleasure  of  receiving  any  letter  from  Mis- 
souri since  I  returned  to  Texas.  Be  kind  enough  to  write  to  me 
as  often  as  you  can. 

I  have  spent  my  time  at  this  place  since  I  came  back.  The 
people  of  Galveston  appear  very  anxious  to  attend  our  churcli  on 
Sunday;  it  is  a  great  pity  it  was  not  built  according  to  the  plan 
you  gave  them ;  it  is  quite  too  small  to  receive  those  who  would 
wish  to  attend.  There  is  always  a  good  number  of  the  nidst 
respectable  people  every  Sunday.  I  have  been  obliged  to  have  a 
little  sacristy  built,  and  I  am  getting  some  benches,  the  whole  will 
cost  me  very  near  two  hundred  dollars,  though,  I  hope,  the  people 
will  pay  something  for  those  seats. 

The  church  at  Houston  is  nearly  completed.  It  will  be  scaled 
inside ;  it  has  a  steeple  and  some  kind  of  pews  and  measures  50 
feet  by  25.  The  whole  expense  will  amount  to  nearly  $1,100.00, 
of  which  I  must  pay  at  least  $950.00. 

You  cannot  form  an  idea  of  the  distressed  situation  of  this 
country ;  the  corn  crop  will  fail  for  want  of  rain  in  many  sections 


74 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


of  tlic  land.  There  is  no  business  going  on,  no  money  in  circula- 
tion and  provisions  are  extremely  scarce. 

The  Texan  Militia  has  entirely  ruined  poor  San  Antonio.  They 
have  robbed  all  the  cattle  and  horses  of  the  poor  Mexicans,  every 
grain  of  corn  they  had ;  they  have  destroyed  entirely  the  Rancho 
of  Dona  Calvilla,  the  most  flourishing  and  most  numerous  of  the 
San  Antonio  Valley,  and  killed  or  scattered  all  the  people.  Great 
many  Mexican  families  in  consequence  of  these  violences  have 
been  forced  to  leave  the  country  and  go  seek  a  home  beyond  the 
Rio  Grande.  Five  hundred  volunteers  stationed  at  Corpus  Christi 
are  starving  to  death  and  doing  all  the  mischief  they  can.  A  party 
of  Mexican  traders  came  in  sometime  ago  with  $3000.00  and 
about  one  hundred  mules  and  horses ;  they  took  them  prisoners 
and  possessed  themselves  of  everything  they  had.  Gen.  Houston 
gave  orders  to  set  them  at  liberty  and  to  restore  their  property, 
but  the  volunteers  would  not  obey;  they  still  retain  the  traders 
captives  and  keep  all  the  property. 

We  have  about  one  hundred  of  these  volunteers  here  at  Gal- 
veston, and  every  day  we  hear  of  some  new  depredations  com- 
mitted. Beeves,  fowls,  store  provisions  are  stolen,  houses  burnt, 
shooting  and  stabbing;  this  is  a  daily  occurrence.  Two  days 
ago  a  man  was  killed  in  the  middle  of  Tremont  Street  before  a 
crowd,  and  another  severely  wounded,  and  the  perpetrations  of 
such  deeds  are  allowed  to  go  unpunished. 

Congress  will  meet  at  Houston  on  the  27th  of  this  month, 
but  it  is  supposed  that  the  western  members  will  refuse  to  come. 
They  are  going  to  discuss  whether  they  must  invade  Mexico 
or  not.  Houston  seems  to  be  opposed  to  the  undertaking,  but 
the  people  are  clamorous  about  it. 

I  have  written  Mr.  Estany  to  go  and  live  with  Mr.  Calvo 
and  Brother  Sala,  and  to  visit  occasionally  the  few  people  who 
still  remain  in  the  San  Antonio  Valley. 

Mr.  Ducos  and  Mr.  Bourgeois  have  obtained  a  grant  of  two 
million  acres  of  land;  they  are  gone  to  New  Orleans,  and  pro- 
pose starting  very  soon  for  France  to  gather  emigrants. 

Two  French  vessels  are  daily  expected  with  one  hundred  and 
twenty  emigrants;  the  chief  is  already  here;  he  came  by  the  S. 
Packets.  I  have  already  given  Mr.  Ducos  $130.00,  the  receipt 
of  which  I  enclose  in  this  letter.  I  do  not  think  that  the  money 
of  Baton  Rouge  has  been  collected,  nor  the  order  of  Mr.  Careta. 

I  sent  some  coffee,  sugar,  wine,  shirts  and  clothing  to  Messrs. 
Calvo,  Estany  and  Clark,  and  begged  Mr.  Cassiano  to  furnish 
the  two  first  with  the  money  they  might  need.  He  promised 
me  to  do  so. 

I  wrote  again  by  Mr.  Ducos  to  Mr.  Etienne. 


DIOCESE   OF   GALVESTON  75 

I  have  not  as  yet  got  a  deed  for  the  church  lot ;  the  directors 
of  the  Company  can  never  be  found  together. 

Sometimes  I  feel  almost  discouraged.  I  would  like  to  have 
a  priest  for  Houston  and  one  for  Galveston,  and  still  I  dare  not 
write  you  to  send  them  in  the  present  unfavorable  circumstances. 
Their  health  would  be  very  much  exposed.  We  have  already  a 
good  many  cases  of  fever. 

My  best  compliments  to  all  the  confreres;  pray  for  me. 
Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  and  humble  servant. 
*  JOHN  ?^IARY.  Bishop  of  Claudiopolis, 

and  Mcar-Apostolic  of  Texas. 

P.  S.  We  have  twenty-two  scholars  in  our  little  school. 
Mr.  Nash  is  the  teacher.  Every  day  I  have  from  twelve  to 
sixteen  children  to  Catechism. 

Very  Rev.  John  Timon, 
St.  Mary's  College, 
Perry  County,   Mo. 

(Original   in   the   Catholic  Archives   of   America,   Notre   Dame 
Indiana.     Case  Lazarists,  L.  25.) 

Galveston,  August  2Qth,   1842. 
\''ery  Rev.  and  Dear  Sir : 

Since  we  parted  at  New  Orleans,  I  have  not  had  the  pleasure 
of  receiving  a  single  line  from  you;  I  wrote  several  letters  and 
received  no  answer. 

The  country  continues  to  be  in  a  great  state  of  uneasiness, 
perplexity  and  misery.  General  Houston  assembled  Congress 
on  the  27th  of  June  to  determine  on  what  should  be  done  to  restore 
the  peace  of  the  country.  A  bill  was  passed  in  both  houses  for 
an  offensive  war,  putting  the  public  domain  at  the  disposition 
of  the  president,  to  raise  means  for  the  operation  and  give  bin; 
the  entire  control  of  everything  to  carry  it  into  execution ;  but 
to  the  great  dissatisfaction  of  the  population  he  vetoed  it.  Ho 
pretended  that  it  was  unconstitutional,  giving  him  more  power 
than  what  he  ought  to  have,  and  be  said  that  destitute  of  means 
it  was  ridiculous  to  attempt  a  war  against  Mexico.  After  read- 
ing his  veto  the  people  began  to  cool  off  gradually.  I  he  volun- 
teers, five  hundred  strong,  have  di.sbanded  and  left  tlie  west, 
where  they  were  stationed  waiting  for  the  militia  of  Texas  to 
commence  operations  against  Mexico.  They  were  actually  star- 
ving destitute  of  clothes  and  of  everything  else.  1  hey  go  back 
to  the  U.  S.  quite  disgusted  with  Texas.  Wo  received  letters 
from   Mr.   Smith,  minister  to  France,  announcnig  that  he  had 


"jd  HISTORY  OF  THE 

signed  at  last  a  treaty  with  England,  and  had  obtained  a  promise 
from  that  government  to  mediate  in  our  favor.  Still  it  seems 
that  the  English  have  little  hope  of  success.  Two  splendid  steam 
vessels  of  war  left  Liverpool  for  Vera  Cruz,  manned  by  English- 
men to  act  against  Texas.  We  calculate,  then,  that  if  the  Cabinet 
of  Washington  and  of  England  do  not  succeed  in  their  attempts 
to  obtain  an  amicable  settlement  we  shall  have  hard  work  to- 
wards the  fall. 

1  continue  to  divide  my  time  between  Galveston,  Houston  and 
the  Brazos.  I  go  every  six  weeks  to  Houston,  where  I  spend 
three  Sundays,  then  to  the  Brazos  for  eight  or  ten  days.  The 
church  at  Houston  is  covered  in.  It  has  twenty  pews,  a  com- 
munion table,  a  pulpit  and  a  steeple ;  it  looks  very  well  outside. 
The  length  is  fifty  feet  and  the  breadth  twenty-five  feet.  It  was 
too  small  every  Sunday  for  the  congregation  that  desired  to  at- 
tend. There  seems  to  be  a  favorable  disposition  towards  our 
religion  even  among  Protestants.  The  number  of  Catholics  is 
much  larger  than  I  anticipated  at  first ;  they  appear  pleased  to 
have  a  church.  Still  the  number  of  confessions  is  not  as  great 
as  I  would  wish.  Perhaps  the  jubilee  will  have  some  tendency 
to  awaken  them.  I  began  it  here  last  Sunday,  and  good  manv 
have  already  commenced  their  confession.  The  work  of  reform- 
ation will  be  slow ;  there    are  so  many  obstacles  in  the  way. 

We  will  build  shortly  a  chapel  below  Richmond  on  the  Brazos. 
General  Sommerville  gave  me  ten  acres  of  land  for  that  purpose, 
and  the  people  have  signed  money  enough  and  work  to  put  up 
a  small  building.  The  workman  has  agreed  to  take  up  the  sub- 
scription list  in  payment  of  the  work.  I  signed  myself  fifty 
dollars,  but  told  them  positively  that  I  would  not  contribute  any 
more. 

The  amount  contributed  by  the  inhabitants  of  Houston  to- 
wards their  church  does  not  exceed  $150.00.  We  sold  eleven 
pews  for  $143.00,  which  I  hope  will  be  paid ;  the  whole  cost  of 
the  building  is  about  $1100.00,  so  for  my  own  share  I  have  had 
to  pay  about  $800.00.  In  Galveston  I  have  thirty  excellent 
benches  as  comfortable  as  pews ;  twelve  only  have  been  rented. 
Times  are  so  hard  and  the  good  will  of  the  people  so  weak  that 
w^e  could  not  dispose  of  more. 

I  received  whilst  at  Houston  letters  from  Messrs.  Calvo  and 
Estany.  They  were  both  well,  but  the  country  in  which  they  live 
is  in  a  most  deplorable  condition.  The  volunteers  and  the  Texas 
militia  have  ruined  it  entirely.  Cattle,  horses,  ewes,  everything 
has  been  taken  away.  There  are  only  two  American  families 
living  now  at  San  Antonio;  more  than  twenty  Mexican  families 
left  for  the  Rio  Grande,  most  of  the  people  are  moving  from  the 
valley  of  San  Antonio  and  from  the  Colorado,  for  fear  of  a  new 


DIOCESE   OF   GALVESTON  "JJ 

invasion.  The  crops  have  failed  in  many  parts  of  the  country 
on  account  of  the  drought,  during  the  spring  and  beginning  of  the 
summer,  and  the  heavy  rains  that  have  been  falling  most  every 
day  since  the  middle  of  July  do  a  serious  injury  to  the  cotton 
crop. 

Mr.  Van  Ness  was  killed  about  three  months  ago.  The  In- 
dians are  committing  a  great  deal  of  mischief  around  San  An- 
tonio and  Austin.  Every  week  there  are  some  few  persons 
killed.  Mr.  De  Saligny  left  Texas  in  consequence  of  bad  health. 
I  put  his  house  at  Austin  under  the  care  of  a  good  family :  ir 
would  be  impossible  to  rent  it  at  present,  as  more  than  half  the 
population  has  left  the  town  and  people  are  happy  to  put  families 
in  their  houses  during  their  absence.  General  Houston  tried 
his  best  to  remove  the  archives  of  the  government  from  there, 
but  he  could  not  succeed,  and  the  next  Congress  will  be  held 
at  Austin.  It  is  the  impression  of  many  that  the  seat  of  govern- 
ment will  not  be  removed  from  there. 

Several  French  emigrants  have  lately  arrived,  and  about  one 
hundred  are  daily  expected,  to  be  followed  by  a  great  many 
others.  The  principal  agent  of  the  emigrating  company  has 
purchased  one-third  of  the  town  of  Harrisburg,  below  Houston, 
the  charter  for  a  bank  and  railroad  of  the  same  place,  and  four 
leagues  of  land  around  the  city.  Several  large  grants  have 
l)cen  made  lately  to  French,  English  and  German  companies  for 
emigration.  If  we  had  only  peace,  there  would  be  soon  a  great 
tide  of  emigration.  Mr.  Ducos  and  Bourgeois  are  gone  to  Paris 
to  induce  settlers  to  move  to  this  country.  I  furnished  Mr. 
Ducos  with  $130.00,  the  receipt  of  which  I  have  already  for- 
warded  to  you. 

I  would  need  very  much  one  priest  for  Galveston  and  one  for 
Houston  ;  it  would  also  be  necessary  to  visit  the  Trinity,  where 
there  are  good  many  Catholics.  Still  I  feci  afraid  to  see  them 
coming  before  the  summer  be  over  and  before  the  clouds  tli.it 
hang  over  Texas  be  a  little  dispelled.  If  the  war  docs  not  bre;ilv 
out  before  November,  T  would  be  glad  if  you  would  .send  m-- 
two  priests  about  that  time. 

The  nun  who  came  to  Galveston  whilst  you  were  lu-rc  writes 
to  me  continually  wishing  to  return  to  the  place.  She  will  bring 
with  her  three  French  and  two  English  Sisters  and  about  $8000; 
she  requested  the  Superior  of  the  Seminary  of  Grass  to  write 
also,  and  that  gentleman  tells  me  in  his  letter  that  she  l)clongs 
to  a  respectable  and  wealthy  family,  that  she  is  an  excellent  nun 
and  that  she  will  be  permitted  to  come  only  at  my  request.  If 
I  insist  for  her,  they  will  let  her  come  to  Texas  with  her  -om- 
panions,  but  not  otherwise.  They  seem  to  be  dissatisfied  at  th- 
treatment  experienced  at  New  Orleans. 

T  wrf)te  to  Mr.  E.stany  to  go  to  San  Antonio  to  make  a  re- 


78  HISTORY  OF  THE 

treat  and  give  Mr.  Calvo  the  opportunity  of  doing-  the  same. 
1  think  he  must  be  gone  there  if  the  fear  of  the  Indians  has  not 
deterred  him  from  the  journey.  It  is  probable  that  after  the 
jubilee.  I  will  go  myself  to  visit  them.  It  will  not  take  me  more 
than  three  or  four  weeks.  Be  pleased  to  remember  me  to  all 
and  to  pray  for  me. 

\'ery  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  and  humble  servant, 

*  JOHN  MARY,  Bishop  of  Claudiopolis 

and  Vicar-Apostolic  of  Texas. 

Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  A.  Blanc, 
For  Very  Rev.  J.  Timon, 
New  Orleans,  La. 

(Original  in  Catholic  Archives  of  America,  Notre  Dame,  Ind. 
Case  Lazarists,  L.  24.) 

Houston,  February  ist,  1843. 
Very  Rev.  and  Dear  Sir : 

I  have  just  received  your  two  letters,  one  from  St.  Louis 
and  the  other  from  New  Orleans.  It  would  afford  me  a  great 
deal  of  pleasure  to  go  to  see  you  at  this  moment,  but  it  is  not 
in  my  power.  I  am  on  my  way  to  San  Antonio.  For  a  long 
time  I  have  not  heard  from  our  priests  who  are  in  that  quarter, 
and  I  would  like  to  see  them  before  going  to  the  States. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Uquhart,  who  lives  with  Mr.  Mullen  at  St. 
Patrick's,  wrote  to  me,  expressing  a  wish  to  come  to  Texas. 
I  wrote  back  to  him  not  to  come  until  I  would  go  over  myself. 
I  am  anxious  to  ascertain  what  kind  of  recommendations  he 
brought  with  him.  and  what  were  his  dispositions.  Do  me  the 
favor  to  inquire  about  him.  and  if  you  think  that  he  will  suit 
for  this  mission  send  him  on  by  the  first  boat,  directing  him  to 
celebrate  one  Sunday  at  Galveston  and  to  proceed  immediately 
to  Houston,  where  he  will  remain  until  T  come  back  from  the 
west.  My  intention  is  to  give  him  the  charge  of  Houston  and 
of  the  neighboring  missions.  Let  him  know  that  the  country 
is  extremely  poor,  and  that  zeal,  pure  disinterested  zeal,  should 
prompt  him  to  dedicate  himself  to  this  mission.  When  he  arrives 
at  Galveston  let  him  go  straight  to  our  house  and  the  sacristan 
will  direct  him  where  to  take  his  meals.  At  Houston  Mr.  De- 
chene  will  give  him  a  room.  He  ought  to  bring  with  him  a  bed 
and  some  little  furniture.  If  you  think  that  he  would  not  suit 
for  this  mission,  send  me  a  few  lines.  I  had  written  about  him 
to  Mr.  Rousselon,  but  T  have  not  heard  anything  from  him. 

Do  me  the  favor  to  send  me  to  Houston  forty  pounds  of 
block  tin  by  the  return  of  the  Neptune.  Pay  the  freight  on  it 
as  far  as  Galveston  and  consign  it  to  Dr.  Labadie,  requesting  him 


DIOCESE   OF   GALVESTON  79 

to  pay  the  duties  on  it  and  to  forward  it  to  Mr.  Dechene  at 
Houston.  We  need  it  for  two  bells,  that  some  Germans  are 
casting,  one  for  Houston  and  the  other  for  Galveston.  It  is  so 
disagreeable  on  Sundays  not  to  have  some  means  of  calling  the 
people  in,  that  I  concluded  to  have  them  made.  They  will  weigh 
200  pounds  each. 

The  prospect  in  a  spiritual  point  of  view  begins  to  look  a  little 
more  consoling  in  Galveston  and  even  here.  I  trust  in  God  that 
gradually  the  change  wiU  become  more  satisfactory.  On  Christ- 
mas Day  there  were  sixteen  communions  at  the  first  mass  and 
several  others  during  the  week. 

You  cannot  imagine  how  grieved  I  felt  not  to  hear  from  you. 
I  would  have  written  often,  but  did  not  know  where  to  direct  the 
letters. 

Would  you  advise  me  to  go  to  Baltimore  for  the  next  Coun- 
cil? Send  your  answer  to  Galveston  and  give  me  long  details. 
Where  will  I  find  you  next  spring? 

Give  my  best  regards  to  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  of  New  Orleans 
and  to  all  the  other  gentlemen. 

One  hundred  and  seventeen  emigrants  arrived  a  few  days 
ago  from  France  and  most  all  are  gone  to  San  Antonio.  Kieht 
hundred  more  are  expected  between  now  and  spring.  The> 
have  been  sent  by  Mr.  Castro,  who  is  authorized  to  settle  two 
thousand  families  on  the  Rio  Frio.  General  Houston  has  given 
them  the  use  of  the  vacant  houses  and  fields  of  San  Antonio, 
until  they  all  arrive,  and  then  they  will  go  to  take  possession  of 
their  lands. 

My  health  is  not  very  good.     1   feel  very  often  severe  pains 
of   stomach.      I'ray    for   me   and    write    before   you    leave    New 
r)rleans.     I  will  remain  only  a  week  in  San  ATitonio. 
Very  respectfully. 
Your  rfbcdient  and  humble  servant  and   brother, 
*JOnX  MARY,  P.ishop  of  Claudiopolis 
and  \icar-Apostolic  of  Texas. 

\'ery  Rev.  J.  Timon, 
.St.  Louis  .'Seminary,  Mo. 

(Original   in   Catholic   Archives  of   America.   X«  tre    Danic.    Iiu!. 
Case  Lazarists,  L.  17.) 

(lalvcston.   December  31st,    1H4.V 
\'ery  Rev.  and  Dear  Sir: 

I  would  have  written  to  you  l)efore  now.  but  the  many  (»ccii- 
pations  that  have  taken  up  all  my  moments  since  I  returned  to 
Galveston  have  not  left  me  any  leisure. 

On  the  very  day  on  which   we  reached  home,   wc  went  tr, 


8o  HISTORY  OF  THE 

house-keeping',  and  you  may  be  assured,  it  was  a  great  comfort 
to  me,  to  be  dispensed  from  the  necessity  of  begging  hospitality. 
A  httle  at  home  is  much  more  agreeable,  than  ever  so  much 
among  strangers.  Brother  Vicari  would  suit  exactly  were  it 
not  for  his  unhappy  disposition. 

I  found  here  the  two  German  priests  who  arrived  during 
my  absence,  and  both  will  remain  in  the  country.  I  have  prom- 
ised to  give  them  each  $.  . .  .  a  year  for  their  clothing.  Mr. 
Schneider  is  about  forty  years  old,  speaks  the  German  beauti- 
fully and  appears  to  be  zealous ;  he  preaches  with  facility  and 
unction.  He  knows  the  French  well  enough  and  commences  to 
be  understood  in  English.  Mr.  Oge  is  about  thirty-six  years  old 
and  speaks  German  and  French  well  enough ;  he  sings  well  and 
understands  music  perfectly.  So  far,  however,  they  seem  to 
be  well  pleased,  especially  since  my  return.  I  try  to  make  them 
live  as  in  a  community;  we  have  regular  hours  for  everything. 

My  long  absence,  which  I  thought  would  have  ruined  this 
infant  mission,  has  perhaps  been  of  service  to  them.  They  have 
been  extremely  glad  to  see  me  back,  and  most  all  hastened  to 
comply  with  their  duties.  Many,  who  had  never  been  to  con- 
fession, have  presented  themselves.  On  Sundays,  we  sing  high 
Mass  and  Vespers;  in  the  morning  I  preach  in  English  and  after 
Vespers  one  of  the  gentlemen  preaches  in  German.  The  church 
is  always  crowded,  and  is  even  toi/  small,  though  many  come  to 
low  Mass.  Every  morning  I  catechise  the  children,  twenty  and 
twenty-four  in  number,  when  all  will  come  I  will  have  about 
forty.  The  number  of  Catholics  has  increased  during  my  ab- 
sence ;  there  must  be  about  seven  hundred  at  present.  This 
morning  I  rented  the  pews,  eighteen  were  taken,  and  if  all  paid, 
will  give  $200.00;  I  hope  some  few  more  will  be  disposed  of. 
I  am  anxiously  looking  for  Mr.  Collins ;  you  must  feel  yourself, 
that  I  stand  in  need  of  help;  would  that  Mr.  M'Giniss  came 
with  him,  it  would  still  be  better;  I  would  station  him  at  Hous- 
ton and  I  have  no  doubt  a  great  deal  of  good  would  be  done. 
Mr.  Oge  I  will  send  to  Mills  Creek,  Bastrop,  etc.,  and  Mr. 
Schneider  will  divide  his  time  between  Galveston,  Houston  and 
the  Trinity,  visiting  the  Germans  until  they  speak  English  more 
fluently.  If  you  send  me  the  two  gentlemen  above  mentioned, 
we  will  try  to  visit  a  good  part  of  the  country  when  the  weather 
will  permit.  Emigration  from  Europe  seems  to  pour  in  more 
rapidly  than  it  ever  did  since  I  came  to  Texas.  We  have  had 
several  arrivals  from  Bremen  and  among  them  many  German 
Catholics.  Last  week  there  came  a  vessel  from  Antwerp  with 
one  hundred  and  twenty-nine  passengers,  all  of  them  Catholics 
except  four  or  five.  They  came  from  the  vicinity  of  Strasbourg 
and  seem  to  be  very  much  attached  to  their  religion,  most  of 
them  having  been  to  their  duties  since  they  landed.     They  will 


- 1  ^s 


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DIOCESE   OF    GALVESTON  8 1 

Start  in  a  few  days  to  go  to  San  Antonio.  As  soon  as  Mr.  Col- 
lins arrives  I  will  try  to  go  there  myself  with  Mr.  Oge  to  give 
them  an  opportunity  of  complying  with  their  duties  and  to  try 
to  see  if  we  could  not  make  them  settle  together  on  some  good 
spot  of  land.  Great  many  more  families  are  going  to  come  from 
the  same  department,  in  fact  there  is  a  vessel  expected  every  day. 

We  do  not  know  what  will  be  the  result  of  the  negotiations 
that  are  going  on  between  our  commissioners  and  those  of  Mex- 
ico, but  everybody  anticipates  that  we  shall  have  peace.  Mr. 
de  Saligny  will  arrive  here  in  a  few  weeks.  Messrs.  Calvo  and 
Estany  are  well ;  I  just  heard  from  them. 

If  you  have  an  opportunity  from  New  Orleans,  send  me  to 
the  care  of  Mr.  Rousselon  one  or  two  small  missals,  some  few 
boxes  of  holy  oils  and  pixes  for  the  Holy  Viaticum. 

Give  my  best  respect  to  your  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  and  to  all 
our  Brethren  and  pray  for 

Your  obedient  and  humble  servant, 
*JOHN  MARY,  Bishop  of  Claudiopolis 
and  Vicar-Apostolic  of  Texas. 

To  Father  Timon. 

(Original  in  Catholic  Archives  of  America,  Notre  Dame.   Ind. 
Case  Lazarists,  L.  8.) 

Galve.'ston.  April  i6th.  1844. 
Very  Rev.  and  Dear  Sir : 

Many  letters  have  I  written  to  you  since  my  return  to  Gal- 
veston, and  have  looked  in  vain  for  an  answer  from  you.  I  must, 
no  doubt,  have  given  you  some  displeasure  or  otherwise  I  can- 
not imagine  why  you  have  forgotten  me  entirely.  Do.  for  God  s 
sake,  send  me  a  few  lines  as  soon  as  you  get  this  letter. 

Brother  Vicari  is  no  longer  with  me;  I  hope  you  received 
the  letter  I  sent  you,  when  he  left  this  place. 

A  great  change  has  taken  place  in  Galveston.  Since  last 
spring  the  population  has  increased  rapidly  considering  the  dif- 
ficulties of  the  times,  and  most  of  the  new  settlers  belong  to  our 
Church.  Our  chapel  is  by  far  too  small  for  our  population  ;  every 
Sundav  it  is  crowded  and  many  who  would  like  to  assist  at  t.ic 
divine 'service  are  obliged  to  go  away  for  want  of  room.  1  he 
interests  of  religion  rcfjuire  that  I  should  soon  make  prcpar.i- 
tions  for  a  more  spacious  edifice.  A  convent  likewise  l)CComc.s 
of  absolute  neccssitv.  The  Protestants  will  make  every  cttort 
to  start  up  schocjls  and  I  could  soon  connncncc  an  cslnblishment 
with  the  good  feeling  which  is  entertained  towards  the  Catholics . 
there  is  no  doubt,  we  would  have  the  best  chance  of  success. 
The  more  T  reflect  on  the  different  measures  which  would  con- 


82  HISTORY  OF  THE 

tribute  to  promote  the  glory  of  God,  tlie  more  I  feel  the  indis 
pensable  necessity  of  going  to  Europe. 

Every  day,  almost,  I  receive  letters  inviting  me  to  visit  places 
where  Catholics  are  becoming  more  numerous  and  have  children 
growing  up  unbaptized  and  destitute  of  religious  instructions ; 
but  alone  as  I  am,  what  can  I  do?  If  I  leave  this  place  even  to 
go  to  Houston,  on  my  return  I  find  people  less  attentive  to  their 
spiritual  duties.  During  my  absence  from  Houston  the  Catholic 
children  frequent  the  Sunday  Schools  and  the  Protestant  meet- 
ings and  imbibe  ideas  quite  prejudicial  to  their  faith.  Seldom 
can  I  go  as  far  as  the  Brazos  River.  It  is  impossible  for  me  to 
visit  the  Trinity,  or  various  other  situations  where  some  good 
might  be  done.  What  are  our  priests  doing  in  the  West,  I  can- 
not, tell,  it  has  not  been  in  my  power  to  see  them  for  better  than 
two  years.  The  uneasiness  of  mind,  the  daily  instructions  for 
children,  the  preparation  for  every  Sunday  sermons  and  the  other 
duties  of  the  ministry  are  gradually  undermining  my  health. 
At  times  I  feel  very  unwell,  and  pure  necessity  compels  me  to 
go.  Oh !  were  you  to  send  me  Mr.  Collins  and  another  priest, 
how  thankful  would  I  feel!  We  have  here  in  Galveston.  I  am 
sure,  more  than  twice  the  number  of  Catholics  of  the  Cape,  fully 
as  fervent  if  not  more  so  than  those  of  Cape  Girardeau.  It  is 
not  rare,  since  the  Easter  time  began,  to  see  fifteen  and  twenty 
penitents  presenting  themselves  for  confession  on  a  Saturday 
evening.  Already  a  good  many,  who  had  not  been  to  confession 
for  fourteen  and  tw^enty  years,  have  complied  with  their  Easter 
duties,  and  had  I  been  able  to  spend  the  whole  time  of  Lent  as 
I  calculated,  relying  on  Mr.  Collins'  coming,  I  have  no  doubt 
the  greatest  part  of  our  Catholic  population  v.'ould  have  fulfilled 
the  Easter  precept.  The  dispositions  of  the  people  are  good, 
they  only  need  instruction.  I  would  like  very  much,  that  you 
would  come,  at  least  as  far  as  Galveston,  the  next  time  you  will 
come  down  to  New  Orleans.  Oiir  principal  house  in  Texa.^ 
ought  to  be  situated  at  this  place  and  I  would  wish  to  have  your 
opinion  about  the  situation  which  we  should  select  for  the  pur- 
pose. Lots  can  be  had  on  fair  terms,  but  by  delaying  much 
longer,  it  will  require  large  sums.  Property  begins  to  become 
much  more  valuable  on  account  of  the  great  many  buildings 
which  have  been  put  up  since  last  year. 

A  treaty  of  peace  and  friendship  has  been  concluded  last 
year  with  many  of  our  Indian  tribes,  and  General  Houston 
started  last  week  to  conclude  one  w^ith  the  Comanches,  who,  it 
is  said,  are  anxious  for  it.  Perhaps  we  might  soon  commence 
missions  among  them?  Rut  still  where  are  the  priests  you 
would  have  to  send?  Reflect  on  this,  if  you  please.  It  is  use- 
less to  speak  and  promise  anything  unless  we  have  a  reasonable 
^Tospect  of  being  able  to  undertake  something  in  earnest. 


DIOCESE   OF   GALVESTON  83 

One  of  my  German  priests  is  going  away  this  week.  Here 
at  Galveston  we  have  very  near  eighty  or  ninety  Germans,  who 
hardly  speak  anything  else  but  their  own  language.  Upwards 
of  two  hundred  are  now  settling  along  the  San  Antonio  River. 
Providence.  I  hope,  will  send  me  some  good  zealous  priests  to 
take  charge  of  them. 

The  Ursulines  seem  disposed  to  establish  a  branch  at  this 
place.  It  will  be  a  kind  providence  for  me  and  the  country,  as 
they  have  means  to  go  to  the  expense  to  take  charge  of  the 
undertaking. 

I  have  bought  the  two  lots  adjoining  my  little  cottage 
and  contracted  for  a  new  addition  to  the  house.  It  would  afford 
me  room  for  a  good  garden  and  for  the  accommodation  of  thi; 
priests  when  they  come  to  see  me. 

Give  my  best  compliments  to  all  our  brethren  and  pray  for 
Very  respectfully, 

*  JOHN  MARY.  Bishop  of  Claudiopolis 

and  Vicar-Apostolic  of  Texas. 

To  Father  Rousselon. 

(Original   in   Catholic  Archives  of  America.   Notre  Dame.   Ind. 
Case  Lazarists,  L.  23.) 

San  Antonio,  September  22,  1844. 
Since  my  departure  from  Galveston  I  have  not  found  occasion 
to  write  you  as  I  have  been  almost  outside  the  civilized  world. 
Today  there  is  a  person  going  to  Galveston,  and  I  ask  you  to 
mail  the  bundle  of  letters  I  am  sending  in  your  care.  You  will 
no  doubt  have  heard  already  of  the  death  of  poor  Mr.  Paquin. 
I  know  neither  the  details  nor  the  date.  I  was  indeed  sorry  to 
receive  the  terrible  news  ten  days  ago.  The  good  God  puts  mc 
to  a  supreme  test.  He  was  so  useful,  I  was  so  happy  to  have  hmi 
with  me.  and  scarcely  had  he  arrived  when  he  is  taken  away. 
I  recommend  him  to' your  prayers.  I  shall  leave  here  in  eight 
days  and  I  hope  to  arrive  in  Galveston  about  llie  first  of  No- 
vember. T  shall  write  you  then  and  also  to  Monsignor. 
Your  devoted  and  humble  servant, 

*  JOHN  MARY.  Bishop  of  Claudiopolis 

and  ^^icar-.^postolic  of  Texas. 

Very  Rev.  John  Timon. 

New  Orleans,  La. 

(Original   in   Catholic   Archives  of   America.   Notre   O.-ime.    In<l. 

Case  Lax.arists.  L    is) 

Galveston.  December  11.   \>^\\ 

\'ery  Rev.  and  Dear  Sir: 

I   returned  last  Wednesday   from  the   west  after  an  absenre 
of  more  than   five  months.     When    T    started   for  Galveston   al, 


84  HISTORY  OF  Tiin: 

enjoyed  a  g-Qod  health  and  Httle  did  they  expect  the  awful 
visitation  which  has  proved  so  fatal,  especially  among  the  new 
settlers.  I  felt,  however,  some  uneasiness  for  poor  Mr.  Paquin 
and  Mr.  Brands;  I  offered  them  to  remain  alone  at  Galveston, 
but  they  would  not ;  they  thou^^ht  they  would  be  safer  here  than 
riding  in  the  burning  sun.  It  was  only  at  the  end  of  August 
that  I  heard  that  the  epidemic  had  broken  out  and  on  the  15th 
of  August  the  sad  intelligence  of  poor  Mr.  Paquin's  death  came 
to  me.  You  may  judge  of  my  distress  and  affliction!  1  would 
have  returned  immediately  to  this  place,  had  I  not  been  told 
that  Mr.  I^rands  was  restored  to  health  and  that  the  fever  had 
entirely  disappeared.  I  continued  then  my  journey,  visited  al- 
most the  entire  portion  of  western  Texas  and  had  truly  reason 
to  be  thankful  to  God  for  the  good  which  it  seemed  to 
produce.  Many,  great  many  attended  the  spiritual  exercises,  not 
only  Catholics  but  even  Protestants,  and  seemed  to  listen  with 
great  anxiety.  We  had  many  confessions  and  communions. 
I  baptized  several  children  of  Protestant  parents,  and  some 
adults.  Sixty  persons  received  the  sacrament  of  confirmation. 
The  total  number  of  confessions  heard  during  the  year  amounts 
to  2774  and  that  of  communions  to  2507,  twice  as  many  as  with- 
in the  year  1843.  Providence,  as  you  see,  has  been  pleased  to 
bless  our  little  efforts ;  but  still  how  much  remains  undone, 
for  want  of  clergymen.  Mr.  Calvo  continues  to  labor  with  a 
great  zeal  and  does  a  great  deal  of  good  at  San  Antonio.  Mr. 
Estany  cannot  be  too  much  praised  for  his  indefatigable  zeal 
and  his  constant  exertions ;  he  has  been  truly  a  missionary,  bear- 
ing patiently  with  all  kinds  of  privations  and  bringing  back  to 
the  practice  of  their  duties  many  cold  and  indifferent  Catholics. 
He  is  very  much  respected  and  loved  by  all  in  the  vast  portion 
of  country  which  he  visits. 

On  my  arrival  at  Galveston  1  have  found  Mr.  Brands  in  good 
health  and  fine  spirits.  The  severe  attack  of  the  yellow  fever 
seems  to  have  removed  all  his  former  indisposition*. 

On  the  12th  of  September  I  laid  the  cornerstone  of  a  new 
church  for  the  Germans  at  Castroville,  on  the  banks  of  the 
Medina,  twenty-four  miles  from  San  Antonio.  A  new  colony  is 
forming  there  under  the  guidance  of  Mr.  Castro;  already  the 
place  contains  sixty-six  families  assembled  in  a  village  and  they 
expect  two  hundred  and  fifty  families  more  in  the  course  of 
this  winter.  The  spot  is  healthy  and  beautiful.  There  is  an 
association  of  German  princes  sending  emigrants  to  Texas ;  one 
vessel  has  already  arrived  with  150  passengers  and  three  or  four 
more  are  daily  expected.  The  Prince  of  Solms  has  arrived  here 
last  summer  to  make  necessary  arrangements ;  he  told  me  that 
they  intended  settling  here  in  Texas  about  ten  thousand  families 


DIOCESE   OF    GALVESTON  85 

within  three  or  four  years.     What  shall  I  do  to  procure  clerg;v- 
men  for  the  Catholic  portion  of  these  people? 

I  would  like  to  have  your  opinion  about  my  going  to  Europe. 
Mr.  Etienne  advises  me  to  undertake  the  journey,  and  the  im- 
possibility of  procuring  clergymen  here,  means  to  build  the 
churches  we  need,  etc.,  etc.,  makes  me  feel  desirous  to  go.  If 
I  determine  on  the  journev  I  will  go  to  see  vou  before  I  leave 
the  U.   S. 

1  often  wished  to  write  you  during  my  travels,  but  the  dif- 
ficultv  of  procuring  paper  or  conveyance  for  letters  prevented 
me  from  doing  so. 

Farewell,  my  dear  Sir,  and  pray  for 

Your  old   friend  and  brother, 
*  JOHN'  MARY,  Bishop  of  Claudiopolis 
and  \'icar-Apostolic  of  Texas. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


EARLY  PIONEERS. 

We  append  a  short  sketch  of  some  of  the  pioneer  co-laborers 
of  Bishop  Odin. 

THE  MOST  REW  JOHN  JOSEPH  LYNCH,  C.  M.,  D.  D. 

When  Father  Odin  came  to  Galveston,  May  29,  1841,  he  was 
accompanied  by  a  small  number  of  priests,  among  whom  were 
the  Rev.  Fathers  John  Joseph  Lynch  and  John  Brands,  both  of 
the  Congregatio^n  of  the  Mission. 

John  Joseph  Lynch  was  born  in  Ireland,  1816,  and  after  com- 
pleting his  education  in  Dublin  and  Paris,  came  to  the  United 
States.  His  first  appointments  were  in  Galveston  and  Houston. 
In  1848,  he  became  president  of  St.  Mary's  College,  Barrens, 
Mo.  In  1856,  he  founded  Niagara  University  ("Our  Lady  of 
Angels")  at  Niagara  Falls,  N.  Y.  In  1859,  he  was  consecrated 
Bishop  of  Aechinas  and  coadjutor  of  Toronto.  He  succeeded 
to  the  see  of  Toronto,  April  26,  i860;  became  the  first  arch- 
bishop of  Toronto  and  metropolitan  of  Ontario,  March  18,  1870; 
died  May  12,  1888.  In  1869,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Vatican 
Council. 

THE  VERY  REV.  J.  M.  PAQUIN,  C.  M. 

The  Catholic  Directory  of  1845  contains  the  following  obit- 
uary notice : 

"Died,  at  Galveston,  in  the  Republic  of  Texas,  August  13, 
1844,  the  Very  Rev.  J.  M.  Paquin,  vicar  general  of  the  Rt.  Rev. 
Dr.  Odin,  vicar  apostolic  of  Texas. 

Mr.  Paquin  was  born  at  Florissant,  in  Missouri,  in  1799.  He 
entered  the  seminary  of  the  Barrens  in  1820,  and  soon  attached 
himself  to  the  Congregation  of  the  Mission.  Tender  piety,  en- 
tire obedience,  profound  humility,  a  spirit  of  sacrifice  and  self- 
abnegation,  marked  his  conduct  uniformly  during  his  clerical 
career.  After  having  successively  been  superior  of  the  mission 
at  Cape  Girardeau,  and  presided  over  the  seminary  and  college 
of  St.  Mary's,  he  was  transferred  to  St.  Louis  in  1842.  Two 
years  after,  he  repaired  to  Texas,  to  share  the  labors  of  that 
difificult  mission,  and  soon  fell  a  victim  to  the  yellow  fever  which 
was  raging  in  that  country." 


DIOCESE   OF    GALVESTON  87 

Father  Paquin  lies  buried  in  St.  Mary's  Cathedral,  according 
to  the  following  entry  in  the  Liber  Mortuorum : 

"On  the  15th  day  of  November,  1847,  ^vere  removed  to  the 
new  church  the  mortal  remains  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Paquin,  who 
departed  this  life  on  the  nth  of  August.  1844,  a  victim  of  3-ellow 
fever.  JOHN  BRANDS,  C.  M." 

The  name  of  Father  Paquin  appears  in  the  Cathedral  records 
but  four  times — under  the  baptisms  of  Adeline  Michel  and  Pierre 
Joseph  Kappes,  and  under  the  funeral  notices  of  Joseph  M.  I. 
Menard  and  Gabriel  Dolques. 

THE  REV.  N.  STEHLE,  C.  M. 

Father  Stehle  came  to  Galveston  in  1840  with  the  Prefect 
Apostolic,  the  \'ery  Rev.  John  Timon,  and  remained  here  until 
shortly  after  the  arrival  of  Father  Odin  in  1841.  He  then  re- 
turned to  the  mother-house  of  the  Congregation  of  the  Mission 
in  the  Barrens,  Mo.  The  Catholic  Directories  of  1843  and  1844 
place  him  at  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Cross  at  La  Salle,  La  Salle 
County,  Illinois. 

During  his  stay  in  Galveston  he  married  Edmond  Quirk 
and  Flisa  Kelly,  and  baptized  Marie  Adele  Bremond,  Johanna 
McKally.  Margaret  Bergstrom,  Marie  Ounnen,  Daniel  Cochin, 
Mary  Ann  Fortney,  Stephen  Campien.  Louise  111.  John  Kreiner, 
Henry  Reed,  Mary  Morrison,  James  Kehoe.  Peter  Wm.  Dinke- 
laker.  and  James  H.  Klahn. 

THE  \-FRV  RE\'.  JOHN  BR.\NDS,  C.  M..  V.  G. 

Father  I'.rands  came  to  Galveston  for  the  first  time  in  1841. 
in  the  company  of  Father  Odin  and  Father  Lynch.  The  Catho- 
lic Directories'  of  1843  and'  1844  .station  him  at  St.  Genevieve. 
St.  Genevieve  Co..  Missouri.  When  he  left  Galveston  is  not 
known. 

He  returned,  however,  in  1844— perhaps  in  company  with 
Father  Paquin;  for  his  first  entries  in  the  Cathedral  registers 
are  side  by  side  with  those  of  his  confrere  in  religion. 

For  three  years  he  shared  the  labors  of  the  Cathedral  parish 
with  Father  Rollando;  and.  shortly  before  the  iatter's  death,  lie 
was  appointed  vicar  general  bv  I'.ishop  Odin.  He  took  a  prom-- 
nent  part  in  the  ceremonies  of  the  corner-stone  laying  and  the 
consecration  of  the  Cathedral. 


88  HISTORY  OF  THE 

THE  RE\'.  BARTHOLOMEW  ROLLANDO,  C.  M. 

In  1842  and  1843,  Father  Rollando  was  pastor  of  the  church 
of  St.  John  the  Baptist  at  Spring^field,  111.  When  the  diocese  of 
Chicag^o  was  established  toward  the  end  of  1843,  and  the 
churches  of  the  religious  transferred  to  the  diocesan  clergy, 
Father  Rollando  came  to  Galveston  as  assistant  pastor  of  St. 
Mary's  Church.  He  labored  here  till  1847,  when  he  was  called 
to  his  reward. 

On  the  south  wall  of  the  Cathedral,  at  the  altar  of  the  Sacred 
Heart,  there  is  a  marble  slab  with  the  following  inscription  : 

Charitate  vestra  orate  pro  anima 

Bartholomaei  Rollando 

S.   Romanae  Ecclesiae   Presbyteri  et  Congregationis   Missionum 

Sodalis. 

Bordigheri  in  Italia  natus  A.  D.  1812. 

Obiit  die  Ottobris   11,  A.  D.   1847. 

Aetatis  anno  xxxv. 

R.  I.  P. 

In  the  book  of  interments  Father  Rollando's  death  is  re- 
corded as  follows : 

"On  the  1 2th  of  October,  1847,  I-  the  undersigned,  interred 
the  body  of  the  Rev.  Bartholomew  Rollando,  C.  M.,  who  yester- 
day departed  this  life,  aged  35  years. 

J.  BRANDS,  C.  M." 

Father  Rollando  had  apparently  been  ill  only  a  short  time, 
for,  as  late  as  September  10,  1847,  he  entered  the  following 
baptism : 

"On  the  loth  day  of  September,  1847,  in  St.  Mary's  Church,  I, 
the  undersigned,  baptized  Ellen,  born  the  7th  of  August,  1847, 
daughter  of  Bernard  McDonnell  and  Winfreda  McGuinny. 
The   sponsers  were  Francis   McGuinny  and  Rosana  Craycroft. 

"B.'  ROLLANDO,  C.  M." 


The  years  1853  and  1854  were  disastrous  for  Galveston.  To 
quote  from  a  recent  article  on  "Early  Churches  in  Galveston," 
by  Ben  C.  Stuart:  "Many  who  daily  pass  St.  Mary's  Cathedral, 
and  who  can  not  fail  to  note  the  modest  marble  monument  which 
for  fifty  years  has  stood  near  the  entrance  of  the  structure,  are 
unaware  of  the  fact  that  it  marks  the  graves  of  as  great  heroes 
as  any  ever  falling  upon  the  field  of  l^attle.  In  the  summer  of 
1853.  Galveston,  then  a  town  with  a  population  of  6,000  persons, 
was  visited  by  an  epidemic  of  yellow  fever,  which  resulted  in 
335  deaths.    Among  this  number  were  six  unacclimated  Catholic 


DIOCESE   OF   GALVESTON  89 

priests,  who  went  everywhere  ministering  to  the  sick  and  the 
dying,  until,  weakened  by  their  exertions,  they  were  stricken 
by  the  disease  and  fell  victims  to  it." 

The  inscriptions  on  the  monument  in  question  read  as  follows : 

On  the  north  side:  "Hie  jacent  RR.  DD.  J.  C.  Melton,  J. 
Baudran.  J.  P.  Bajard,  G.  Metz.  Obierunt  A.  D.  1853  185^. 
Seigneur,  donnez  lui  le  repos  eternel.  Que  \'otre  Lumiere  I'e- 
claire  pendant  I'eternite.  IMonumentum  pietalis  fidelium.  R. 
I.  P." 

On  the  other  side:  "Hie  jacent  RR.  DD.  J.  Dixon.  D.  O'- 
Driscoll.  Obierunt  A.  D.  1853-1854.  "Out  of  dust  thou  wast 
taken,  and  unto  dust  thou  shalt  return.'  Monumentum  pietatis 
fidelium.    R.  I.  P." 

On  the  south  side.  "  In  memory  of  E.  Hug.  Born  Nov.  29, 
1809.    Ordained  June  i,  1833.     Died  Sept.  2y,  1853." 

On  the  east  side:  "Zum  Andenken  unser  gcliebten  E.  Hug- 
Grunder  der  Deutschen  Congregation.     Starb  am  2/  September, 

1853" 

As  late  as  September  2,  1853,  Father  Hug  made  the  following 
interesting  entry,  in  which  he  describes  yellow  fever : 

"Anno  Domini  1853.  die  secunda  Septembris.  in  Coemctcrio 
Catholico  scpulta  est  Maria  Bieling,  uxor  Gulielmi  X'onbein. 
Per  dies  octo  febri  atra  bilosa  laboravit,  et  antcquam  c  vivis  dis- 
cesserit,  omnibus  sacramentis  quae  Ecclesia  moribundis  adniinis- 
trat,  refecta  fuit.  Decem  diebus  ante  ejus  mortem,  fralcr  ejus, 
Fredericus  Bieling,  e  vivis  discessit. 

"]■:.  II r.;." 

Of  the  seven  priests  named  on  the  marble  shaft,  six  died  of 
yellow  fever;  one.  the  Rev.  Joshua  Dixon,  died  of  consumption, 
as  the  following  record  shows : 

••(>n  the  4th  of  September,  1^53,  I.  the  undersigned  priest, 
performed  the  funeral  of  Reverend  Joshua  Dixon,  native  of  Fng- 
laiid,  wIk.  flicd  the  same  day  of  consumption,  agcfl   i^t,  years. 

"J.  F.  Baidkan." 


CHAPTER  IX. 


EARLY  CATHEDRAL  RECORDS. 

SOME  PAGES  FROM  THE  EARLY  BAPTISMAL 
RECORDS. 

The  Cathedral  records  begin  with  the  year  1840,  when  the 
Republic  of  Texas  was  created  a  prefecture  apostolic.  The  earli- 
est records  read  as  follows : 

"The  seventh  of  December,  eighteen  hundred  and  forty,  I 
the  undersigned  priest  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  and  pre- 
fect apostolic  of  Texas,  baptized  Michael,  born  Dec.  13,  1839,  of 
William  Morris  and  Margaret  McClain.  The  sponsors  were 
John  Bettely  and  Mathilda  Bettely. 

"John  Timon,  P.  A.  T. 

"The  seventh  of  December,  eighteen  hundred  and  forty,  I, 
the  undersigned,  baptized  Marie  Felicite  Augustine,  born  Sept. 
17,  1839,  of  Medard  Menard  and  Susan  LeClere.  The  sponsors 
were  Peter  J.  Menard  and  Rosine  Menard. 

"John  Timon,  P.  A.  T. 

"The  eighth  of  December,  eighteen  hundred  and  forty,  I, 
the  undersigned,  baptized  Marie  Adele,  born  May  28,  1840,  of 
Sylvester  Camille  Bremond  and  Elizabeth  Montamat.  The  spon- 
sors were  Marie  Despinot  Pelletier  and  Nicholas  Labadie. 

"N.  Stehle,  Cong.  Mis. 

"The  ninth  of  December,  eighteen  hundred  and  forty,  I,  the 
undersigned,  baptized  Joanna  McKally,  born  Sept.  26,  1839,  of 
James  McKally  and  Margaret  Reed.  The  sponsors  vv'ere  Chris- 
topher Fox,  etc. 

"N.  Stehle,  Cong.  Miss." 

Then  follows  the  record  of  the  baptism  of  a  slave,  viz. : 

"I,  the  undersigned,  this  ninth  day  of  December,  eighteen 
hundred  and  forty,  baptized  Marie  Rose,  born  March  12,  1840, 
of  Joe  and  Adelaide,  servants  of  M.  B.  Menard.  The  sponsors 
were  Medard  and  Susanna  Menard. 

John  Timon,  P.   A  T." 


DIOCESE   OF   GALVESTON  9 1 

Others  baptized  in  1840  were :  Sarah  Labadie,  Charlotte 
Labadie,  Robert  Alexander  McCallum,  Margaret  Bergstrom  and 
Maria  Ounnen. 

For  the  year  1841  we  find  recorded  the  baptism  of  Caroline 
DeLacy,  Daniel  Cochin,  Mary  Ann  Fortney,  Stephen  Campion, 
Louise  111,  John  Kreiner,  Henry  Reed,  Mary  Morrison,  James 
Kehoe,  Peter  William  Dinkelaker,  James  K.  Klahn,  and  the  fol- 
lowing two,  the  first  baptisms  administered  here  by  the  future 
bishop  of  Galveston,  then  vice-prefect  apostolic,  the  Very  Rev. 
John  Mary  Odin : 

"I,  the  undersigned,  priest  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  the 
seventh  of  July,  1841,  in  the  city  of  Galveston,  baptized  Anna 
Josephine,  daughter  of  Denis  Campion  and  Anna  ]\Iurphy,  bom 
on  the  i8th  of  June,  1841.  The  sponsors  were  John  M.  Odin 
and  Mary  Murphy. 

"J.  M.  Odin,  Vice  Prefect  Apost. 

"I,  the  undersigned  priest  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  on 
the  eleventh  of  July,  1841,  baptized  Mary  Cicily,  born  on  the 
twenty-fourth  of  May,  A.  D.  1841,  of  Nicholas  D.  Labadie  and 
Mary'  Norman.  The  sponsors  were  Charles  F.  Labadie  and 
Rosine  J.  Menard. 

"J.  M.  Odin,  V.  P.  A.  T." 

The  first  baptisms  in  1842  were  those  of  John  Heffcrman. 
Edward  Francis  Byrne,  and  Marie  Felicite  Romaine. 

The  Republic  of  Texas  was  elevated  from  a  prefecture  apos- 
tolic to  a  vicariate  apostolic  March  6,  1842.  The  first  baptismal 
entry  of  the  vicariate  reads  as  follows : 

"Die  17  Maii,  1842,  ego  Joannes  Maria  Odin,  Cong.  Miss., 
miseratione  divina  et  Sanctae  Sedis  Apostolicae  gratia  cpiscopus 
Claudiopolitanus  ct  vicarius  apostolicus  Texensis.  baptizavi  Jo- 
annam  Theresam  Elizabeth,  natam  die  17  Martii.  1842.  filiam 
Joannis  B.  Moscr  et  Mariae  Magdalcnac  Illig.  Patrnuis  fuit 
Petrus  Hyacinthus  Moser  et  matrina  Joanna  Moscr. 

"Jo.\NN[-s  Mari.\.  Epis.  Claudiopo.. 

"Et  Vic.  Apos.  Texensis." 

The  otiier  baptisms  of  1842  were  those  of  Mary  Magdalen 
Smith,  Ann  I'lizabeth  Reed,  John  Adoph  Ute.  Paubm-  Ilrnnctfa 
Cobb.  Hcnrv  Francis  Cobb.  Susan  Earl.  Jo.scphnu-  Ann  Offioior, 
Elizabeth  Siaven.  Stanislas  Mavkowsky.  Cathcnne  liarru-t  iM.rt- 
ney.  Sarah  I'.utlcr.  and  Caroline  Huctc  dc  Condc.  wlx.se  bnptts- 
mal  record  reads : 

"12  Septembre,  1842.  jai  baptise  Caroline  Francoisc  Ihictc 
de  Conde,  nee  le  10  Septembre  a  bord  du  grand  Condc.  fiHc  de 


92  HISTORY  OF   TH1-: 

Barthelemy  Dcnys  llucte  et  de  Marie  Maurean.  Le  parrain  a 
ete  M.  Charles  llyacintlie  Maria  Rogcrie,  et  la  marraine  I'Vaii- 
coise  Plot. 

"Ji:a\   Makik,  Eve.  de  Claudiopolis, 
"Et  \'ic.  A.  dii  Texas." 

The  sacrament  of  baptism  was  administered,  in  1843.  to 
Mary  Lecompte,  Stephen  Albardier,  William  Keogh,  John  Eahey, 
Margaret  Fahey,  Benjamin  Daniel  Conden,  Louis  F.  Officier, 
Anthony.  F.  Clausen.  Theresa  De  Young,  John  De  Young. 
Josephine  Seitz  and  Mary  Ann   LJyrne. 

The  year  1844  shows  the  baptisms  of  I^uisa  Schneider, 
Sophie  Hannaur.  Julius  P.  Philipp,  Sarah  Elizabeth  Lang,  Mary 
Schmitt.  Elizabeth  Arsega,  Rosa  IJillmann,  Adolph  i>illmann, 
Joseph  Marie,  Isidore  Gustave  Menard,  Joseph  Stetson,  Anna 
IMary  Stetson,  Mlary  Ellen  Stetson,  Thomas  Gilbert,  Pauline 
Harriet  X'illemain,  James  Edward  Campion,  Sophie  Amelia 
Soehnlen.  Francis  Oliver  Stetson,  Coralie  Testard,  Michael  li. 
r)audin.  ]slary  Ann  Lux.  ]\Lary  Rooney,  Adeline  Michel.  Petet 
Kappas,  Mary  Brucker,  ]\Iichael  Ohnschlaeger,  Henry  Netzen- 
heim,  Xicholetta  Meixner.  and  Pauline  Hede.  Likewise  the  fol- 
lowing interesting  entries : 

"On  the  8th  of  September,  1844,  L  the  undersigned  R.  C. 
priest,  baptized  Richard,  born  March  10,  1844.  of  Louisa,  servant 
of  Nicholas  Fitzsimmons.  The  sponsors  were  William  and 
Theresa. 

"John  Brands.  C.  M. 

"On  the  8th  of  September,  1844.  I.  the  undersigned  R.  C. 
priest,  baptized  Martha,  born  June  5,  1842,  of  Louisa,  servant 
of  Nicholas  Fitzsimmons.  The  sponsors  were  Jack  and  Ma- 
thilda. 

"John  Brands,  C.  M. 

"On  the  8th  of  September,  1844.  T,  the  undersigned  R.  C. 
priest  baptized  Richard,  born  March  10,  1844,  of  Louisa,  servant 
of  Nicholas  Fitzsimmons.    The  sponsors  were  Jack  and  Melinda. 

"John  Brands,  C.  M." 

The  persons  baptized  in  1845  were:  James  Samuel  Hunt, 
Mary  Catherin  Jay,  Joseph  Labadie,  Leo  Anthony  Drouet,  Oc- 
tave Simeon  Spear,  Augu.st  Richard.  Mathilde  Richard,  Joseph- 
ine Richard,  William  IDickinson,  Frances  E.  Schevalm,  Laura 
Fitzsimmons,  John  Condon,  Mary  Jane  Laws,  Mary  Ann  Quinn, 
Erasmus  Brown,  Margaret  Cahill,  Mary  D'Ah^d'^'  "'■  ''"''^"'n. 
mena  Moser,  Elizabeth  Nash,  Mary  Ann  Jordan,  FnT-bV  <"l5irp, 
Matthew  Cahill,   Charles   Peter  Hotz,   Mary  Ann   Daum,   Mar- 


DIOCESE   OF   GALVESTON 


93 


g-aret  Ziedermann.  Margaret  Rodsch,  Elizabeth  Waning,  Anna 
Erk,  Mary  Catherine  Heimann,  Alexander,  born  o^  -  servant 
woman  belonging  to  Nicholas  D.  Labadie. 

The  year  1846  saw  the  baptism  of  thirty-one  slaves,  twenty- 
eight  of  whom  belonged  to  John  Gillard,  of  Liberty,  Texas.  On 
baptizing  a  certain  colored  woman.  Rev.  R.  Hennesv,  C.  M..  re- 
corded : 

"She  is  a  colored  person,  but  free." 

The  names  of  the  remaining  seventy-four  persons  christen 
ed  in  1846  are  : 

Mary  J.  De  Young,  Catherine  Reinhart.  Peter  Hehl.  An- 
toinette Officier,  Agnes  Jane  Byrne,  Mary  Layendecker,  John 
Plenry  Sandscreiper,  Johanna  Wedig,  Frances  Fastelling  Marv 
Geroult,  Mary  Ann  Dirks,  Caroline  linz.  Robert  Ilillcbrant, 
Mary  Ellen  Campion.  Anna  Mary  Schmidt,  Ellen  Cleary.  Mary 
Kleck,  Josephine  Keller,  Elizabeth  Rothemer,  Mary  Giles.  Eliza- 
beth Aeiman.  Emma  Schneider,  Philumena  Rollct.  I'eter  Resell, 
August  Reiley.  \'incent  Plittner,  Catherine  Nester.  Mary  Con- 
den,  Robert  Henry  Xeal.  Jane  Keogh.  August  Hruhn,  Catherine 
Slevin.  John  Darage.  Octove  Dupas.  Joseph  Aull.  Magdalen  del 
Breuille,  Anthony  Leonard.  Mary  Falvey,  Frederic  Leinmillor. 
Joseph  Brandis,  Robert  Stanger,  Catherine  Stanger,  Mary  Fran- 
ces Dirks,  Elizabeth  Kramer,  Mary  Philumena  Dirks,  Godfrcd 
Meidrich.  Joseph  Bonot,  Mary  White.  Catherine  White,  Joseph 
White.  John  Gillard.  John  de  I'lanc.  A])polinaris  Gillard.  John 
Gillard.  Josc]>h  ([q  I)lanc.  Catherine  Jones.  John  Markcx.  rcter 
Markcy.  Sarah  Chism.  Anne  Chism.  Fanny  Abshier.  Alexander 
Jack.son,  James  Jackson.  Patrick  Adams.  Jane  Adams.  Robert 
Adams.  Emma  Dunman.  Sarah  Dunman,  Rebecca  Duinnan,  Mar\ 
Gillard,  ^Lary  de  Blanc. 

Slaves  are  indicated  in  the  early  register  by  the  letter  S.  Thus : 

"On  the  17th  of  January,  1847,  in  St.  Mary's  Church.  1,  th? 
undersigned,  baptized  John  Price,  two  years  of  ago.  born  of 
Diana  U'illiams,  servant  of  Widow  Moore.  The  spon.sors  were 
Henry  Benjamin.  S.  (slave  of)  Cdib  and  Antoinette  Marie  S. 
(slave). 

"  i'l.    Roi.l.AMiO.    ( '.    .M. 

"The  23rfl  day  of  .M.ircli.  A.  D.  1X47.  in  St.  Mary's  Church. 
I,  the  undcrsigiied.  baptized  Richard,  3  years  old.  son  of  Mar- 
garet Melinda,  slave  of  Widow  Moore.     The  sponsor  was  Helen 

Blossman. 

"I',    K'oir.wiK..  (".  M. 


94  HISTORY  OF  THE 

"The  same  day,  ibidciit,  I  baptized  Thomas,  i6  months  old, 
son  of  Margaret  IMeHnda,  slave  of  Widow  Moore.  The  spon- 
sor was  Eliza  Blake. 

"B.    ROLLANDO,    C.    M." 

On  the  margin  of  the  records  these  names  appear  thus : 

John  Price,  S. 
Richard  S.  Moore. 
Thomas  S.  Moore. 

The  St.  Mary's  Church  mentioned  in  these  baptisms  is  the 
old  St.  Mary's  Church,  a  wooden  structure,  which  stood  on  the 
site  of  the  present  Cathedral,  and  was  moved  out  into  the  street 
during  the  erection  of  the  present  edifice.  The  corner-stone  of 
St.  Mary's  Cathedral  was  laid  a  few  days  before  the  last  two 
baptisms  were  administered,  viz.,  on  March  14,  1847. 

The  first  persons  baptized  in  St.  Mary's  Cathedral  were 
Francis  Delbrel,  Carlos  Delbrel  and  Celina  Delbrel.  On  the 
margin  of  the  register  w^e  find  this  note  in  Bishop  Odin's  hand- 
writing: "These  two  brothers  and  sister  were  the  first  children 
baptized  in  the  new  church  of  St.  Mary." 


INTERMENT    REGISTER  —  SOME    MORE    RECORDS 

FROM  THE  OLD  ST.  MARY'S  CATHEDRAL 

SHOWING  EARLY  DEATHS. 

During  the  seven  years  (1841-1848)  in  which  the  wooden 
St.  Mary's  Church  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present  St.  Mary's 
Cathedral,  the  mortality  of  the  parish  was  very  light.  In  fact, 
while  the  registers  of  baptisms  and  marriages  open  with  the  year 
1840,  the  first  entry  in  the  Liber  Mortuorum  was  made  in  June, 
1842.     It  reads  as  follows: 

"On  the  2d  day  of  June,  1842,  I,  the  undersigned,  interred, 
according  to  the  rites  of  the  Catholic  Church,  the  remains  of 
Mrs.  Jane  Smith  who  departed  this  life  this  morning.  fH 

"J.  M.  Odin, 
"Bishop  of  Claudiopolis  and  Vicar  Apostolic  of  Texas.'' 

The  cornerstone  of  St.  Mary's  Cathedral  was  laid  March  14, 
1847.  Up  to  that  time  we  find  recorded  only  eighteen  deaths, 
five  children  and  the  following  thirteen  adults :  Caspar  Frank, 
John  Copley,  Henry  Edward  Reisacher,  Peter  Kapps  (July  27, 
1844;  three  days  later  his  wife),  Elizabeth  Kapps,  Gabriel  Dol- 
quis,  Louisa  Rossi,  Martin  Muller,  Elisa  Roddy,  Mary  Sand- 
scheiper,  Catherine  Fink,  Frederic  Brandis  and  Catherine  Keller. 


DIOCESE   OF   GALVESTON  95 

Yellow  fever,  it  would  seem,  raged  in  1847;  for  within  the 
space  of  three  months  we  find  recorded  as  many  as  seventeen 
deaths : 

Catherine  O'Xeil,  Jacques  Tacquard,  Henrietta  Jeannotot, 
Francis  Betz,  Leonard  Schneider,  Francis  Jeannotot,  Joseph 
Kirker,  John  Igonet,  Nicholas  Lodie,  Catherine  Fuchs,  Mary 
Jane  Menard  (consort  of  Col.  M.  B.  Menard).  ]\Iax  Joseph  Mol- 
ler,  John  Leinmiller,  Lutgarda  Moller,  Herman  Moller  and  Jo- 
hanna Stofehl. 

From  1848  to  1853  the  entries  are  few.  They  show  the  deaths 
of  Susan  Long.  August  Tegely.  Francis  Nash,  Francis  Doyle, 
David  Gilbert.  Terence  Nugent,  an  infant  slave,  Fidelis  Tegely, 
Jean  Leonard  Wilkin,  Mary  Lender.  Charles  !Moser  (the  first 
person  buried  from  the  present  Cathedral).  Mary  Laws,  John 
Lender,  Mary  Lindenberg,  Estelle  Leroy,  Mary  Lender,  Johanna 
Hartosy,  James  Nash.  Mary  Boatman,  Henry  Coeurs,  Sarah 
McGee.  John  Waters.  Eliza  Joannet,  Maria  McDonnell,  Mat- 
thew Gauthier,  Margaret  Guyot  Ballard,  Desire  Gollifet,  Ed- 
ward Cannon.  Francis  Moreau,  Timothy  Molloy.  Adelaide  Ego- 
ux  Cardon,  Sophia  Marke,  James  Conlan,  Emma  Sauter.  Ar- 
mentine  Henoc,  Sarah  Hale,  J-  Adolphe  Toumie,  Emily  Guticrez, 
Enieline  Bieling.  Louis  Funke,  Catherine  Gengler.  Joseph  "Ricke. 
Mary  Hoffmann  and  Louis  Neetsch. 

Of  the  funerals  in  1853-54.  Father  Hug  conducted  those  of 
'ihere.sa  Seller.  Frederic  Fdeling,  Louisa  Hntz.  Odelia  Kimley, 
Isidora  Leclere.  John  Nieblin  and  Mary  Vonbein  ;  Father  Baud- 
ran  that  of  the  Rev.  Joshua  Dixon ;  Father  O'DriscoU  those  of 
Margaret  Henratty  and  Elizabeth  Walsh ;  Father  Feltin  those 
of  John  Hermann,  P.  J.  Carroll  and  Marv  Knapp;  Father  Melz 
those  of  William  Schaeffer,  T^uisa  Wchmever.  Caroline  Ricko. 
Mrs.  Fortener.  Marv  Ricke  and  Louis  Marke:  Father  Vignalle 
those  .of  John  Peter  Lacosta.  Theresa  Licnart.  I'Vancis  Frnte  and 
Peter  Lienart ;  Father  Chambodut  those  of  Chapuis  Jean  Dct"ur. 
Georjre  Weaver.  John  Boibieux.  Margaret  Salter.  Joseph  Biding, 
and  the  following,  which  are  summarily  recorded  as  follows: 

YFLLDW   FEX'FR  OF-    185,4. 
"The  following  persons  were  buried  by  the  un(lcrsignc<l : 

"Aug.    8— Mr.  Fitzpatrick.  "Aug.  30— Mary  Kleiber. 

"Aug.  13— Mrs.  Fitzpatrick.  "Sept.    t— Mr.  OT.rJCTi. 

"Aug.  23— Mary  Comdon,  3  "Sept.    2— Mr.  M.  Downy, 

vears  old.  "Sept.     4— Thomas  Kerow. 

"Aug.  27— Aiin  O'Dri.'^coll.  "Sept.    6— Catherine  Kelly. 

"Aug.  29— Elizabeth  Miles.  "Sept.    6— Ann  Dayly. 


96  HISTORY  OF  Tirii: 

"Sept.     9— Mrs.  Jockusch.  "Sept.  18— Mary  Frost 

"Sept.    9 — A  German  ^\r],  "Sept.  26 — Mr.  Gay  Jean,  age  40 

name  unknown.  "  Sept.  29 — Marchand. 

"  Sept.  1 1— Mr.  P.aulard.  "  Sept.  29 — \'alerio  de  Gondolfo 

"Sept.  12 — George.  "Sept.  30 — Marchand. 

"Sept.  12 — Julius  Hermann.  "Oct.   '  i — Marchand. 

"Sept.  12— Bridget  O'Driscoll.  "Oct.      2— Margaret  Froba. 

"Sept.  15— Johanna  Hecker.  "Oct.      3— M.  Froba. 

"Sept.  15— John  Hecker.  "Oct.    16— Mrs.  Kerker. 

"Sept.  17— Mary  Froba.  "Oct.    16— Mary  Waters. 
"Sept.  18— Mich?el  Havn. 

"L.  C.  M.  Chambodut.  V.  G." 


MARRIAGE  RECORDS  —  INTERESTING  DATA  CON- 
CERNING EARLY  MARRIAGES  IN  GALVESTON. 
RECORDS  OF  SLAVE  MARRIAGES. 

"O.  that  hallowed  form  is  ne'er  forgot  which  first  love  traced; 
Still  it  lingering  haunts  the  greenest  spot  on  memory's  waste. 
'Twas  odor  fled 
As  soon  as  shed  ; 
'Twas  morning's  winged  dream, 

'Twas  a  light  that  ne'er  can  shine  again  on  life's  dull  stream ! 
O.  'twas  a  light  that  ne'er  can   shine  again  on  life's  dull 
stream!" 

Thus  in  Moore's  sweet  rhythms  the  widowed  consort  may 
sing  the  heart's  plaint,  as  today  memory  opes  her  mystic  door  and 
dreams  of  youth  return.  Others,  long  since  laid  low,  in  their 
children's  girls  are  courting  and  go  wooing  in  their  children's 
boys. 

The  first  marriage  recorded  in  the  Cathedral  register  is  as 
follows : 

"I,  the  undersigned  priest  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church 
and  prefect  apostolic  of  Texas,  have  this  9th  day  of  December, 
1840.  united  in  marriage  Nicholas  D.  Labadie,  son  of  Antoine  D. 
Labadie  and  Charlotte  Barthe,  with  Agnes  Rivera,  daughter  of 
John  Lang  and  Jeannette  Hoekness.  The  witnesses  were  Peter 
J.  Menard,  Medard  Menard,  and  many  others. 

"John  Timon,  P.  A.  T." 

Then  follow  in  quick  succession  the  plighted  vows  of  Andrew 
Jackson  Van  Winkel  and  Jane  Lawrence,  James  W.  DeLacy  and 
Caroline  Winship,  Edmond  Quirk  and  Elisa  Kelley. 


DIOCESE   OF    GALVESTON  97 

In  1842  and  1843  we  find  recorded  only  six  marriages  in  all — 
Joseph  Arsega  and  Mary  ]\Iartin.  Louis  Thuner  and  Louisa  Bart, 
Charles  Giesecke  and  Margaret  Schlosser.  William  Xewell  and 
Elizabeth  Ward,  Kosciusko  Morgan  and  Caroline  Cox,  Peter 
Kapps  and  Augusta  Moser. 

But  the  year  1844  was  a  leap  year,  and  leap  year  evidently 
meant  for  the  young  ladies  of  the  early  days  what  it  means  for 
their  granddaughters  today.  The  result  was  a  happy  one. 
Twenty  couples  marched  up  to  the  altar.  They  were :  Peter 
Lawson  and  Elizabeth  Heimann.  Alexander  McCleland  and  Cath- 
erine Rooney,  Jacob  Matossy  and  Marie  Bauliere,  Henry  Edward 
Reisacher  and  Anna  Pauline  Parguet,  John  Kircher  and  Mary 
Figely,  Peter  Delbrel  and  Theresa  Thompson,  John  De  Young 
and  Theresa  Wetzel,  John  Stephan  and  Anna  Schmidt,  Andrew 
Holtz  and  Henrica  Beckmann,  Isaac  D.  Knight  and  y-Xnna  Haff, 
Henry  Reiser  and  Sophie  Oualline,  Felix  Testar  and  Julia  Oual- 
line,  Joseph  Aull  and  Catherine  Desalme.  Lawrence  Schaeffer 
and  Theresa  Denny,  Peter  Reis  and  Mary  Catherine  Michel. 
Valentine  Fey  and  Catherine  Eckart.  John  C.  Ileidet  and  Jeanne 
P.onat,  Frank  Dirks  and  Catherine  Franklin.  Michael  Jordan  and 
Mary  Corcoran,  Peter  D'A])adie  and  Fmilie  Natalie  Ratisscau. 
Edmond  Logre  and  Jennie  Bricheux. 

The  record  for  1845  is  adorned  with  the  magnifircnt  signature 
of  W.  B.  Ochiltree,  who  was  married  hv  Father  Brands.  The 
entry  is  as  follows : 

"On  the  17th  of  June,  1845.  T,  the  undersigned  Roman  Cath- 
olic priest,  joined  in  the  bonds  of  matrimony  the  Hon.  William 
B.  Ochiltree,  34  vears  of  age.  son  of  David  Ochiltree  and  Coriali 
Ann  Beck,  and  Maria  Louisa  Reid,  24  years  of  age,  daughter  of 
Nathan  Smith  and  Jane  Hamilton,  the  witnesses  were  Gen. 
M.  Hunt  and  Henrietta  Moffitt. 

"W.  P..  Ocliiltrce.  M.  L.  Reid.     Witnesses:     Mennic:ni  Hunt. 

H.  Moffitt.  ^    „  „ 

"John  Br.xnhs,  C.  M. 

The  other  marriages  of  the  vear  were  those  of  James  Mc- 
Kinley  and  Margaret  Morris,  Andreas  Hr.ltz  and  Mane  Biterlo, 
H  B'  Jakes  and  Rebecca  Cravson,  Mnrtin  Keller  and  Catlienne 
Burrer.  Charles  Baehling  and  Ursula  Weinot.  Jean  (artier  and 
Magdalen  Desalme.  Nicholas  Fitzsimmons  and  Elizabeth  J^rtcr 
B.  Matthews  Balderschwitter  and  Theresa  Dennis  John  Lonnd. 
and  Florence  Carron.  George  Delbrel  and  Magdalen  Desalme, 
Pierre  Francois  I'.londeaux  and  Virginia  Euphrasia  l-.-irn.  i.au- 
rence  Bruhn  and  losephine  Mueller.  John  P.  Christian  and  Chris- 
tiana Oualline.  John  Pfeifer  and  Johanna  W  lehmann 


98  HISTORY  OF  THR: 

The  first  slave  marriage  contract  entered  on  the  Cathedral 
records  is  the  following : 

"On  the   15th  of  February.    1846.    1,  the  undersigned  R.  C. 

priest,  married  John  Waters,  servant  of and  Helev., 

a  servant  girl  of  Mr.  J.   Leclere.     The  witnesses  were  Edward 
and   Mary   K  el  ley. 

"John  P)KAni)s.  C.  M." 

In  the  year  1847,  '^^'^  run  across  another  slave  marriage: 

"On  the  2nd  day  of  October,  1847,  I-  the  undersigned  priest 
of  the  R.  C.  Church,  joined  in  the  bonds  of  matrimony  Martin, 
30  years  old,  son  of  Nancy,  slave  of  Mr.  O'Connell,  and  Henri 
etta,  37  years  old,  born  of  Silvey,  slave  of  Mr.  O'Connell.     Tho 
witnesses  were  Mr.  Thorn  and  ^Matilda  Thorn. 

Rich  Hennessy,  C.  M." 

The  last  slave  marriage  recorded  reads : 

"On  the  27th  day  of  December,  1857,  I  jomed  in  the  bonds 
of  matrimony  Jack.  21  years  old,  servant  of  Thomas  Westroo, 
and  Ann,  16  years  old,  servant  of  John  Broun.  Witnesses, 
Thomas  Brown  and  Kate  Carter. 

"J.  M.  Odin,  l>ishop  of  Galveston." 

But  to  return  to  the  marriages  of  1846.  They  were:  Bernard 
Hagemann  and  Johanna  Schwalenberg,  James  Doling  and  Doris 
Rochteheber,  Martin  Paeske  and  Francisca  Bulechal,  Peter  Moser 
and  Elizabeth  Schumacher,  George  Net  and  Anna  Staesker,  Law- 
rence Wittmann  and  Anna  Ertel,  Peter  Ertel  and  Theresa  Bruner, 
Bernard  Stokenburg  and  Catherine  Bockman,  Peter  Nielsen  and 
Catherine  Butzhel,  Henry  Adeling  and  Ernestina  Deiman,  Fran- 
cis McHugh  and  Charlotte  Silsbury. 

Father  Brands  must  have  been  very  busy  on  Jan.  6,  1847, 
for,  on  that  day,  he  performed  the  marriage  ceremony  for  no 
fewer  than  six  couples :  Leonard  Truth  and  Theresa  Wolf, 
Anton  Pfeifer  and  Mary  Tienhart,  George  Seger  and  Catherine 
Gnauer,  John  Herring  and  Catherine  Meyer,  Michael  Sielpe  and 
Mary  Pfeifer,  Michael  Herring  and  Elizabeth  Fiste.  These 
couples  were  apparently  dear  friends,  if  not  relatives,  for  they 
stood  as  witnesses  for  one  another.  Two  days  later  Father 
Brands  married  John  Rohrmiller  and  Theresa  Alausner,  Martin 
Bretner  and  Mary  Disner. 

Before  the  laying  of  the  cornerstone  of  St.  Mary's  Cathedral, 
March  14,  1847,  there  were  three  more  marriages:  Anthony 
Morgante  and  Mina  Yonka,  Charles  Lang  and  Mary  Cabe, 
Michael  Chalz  and  Magdalen  Men. 


DIOCESE   OF    GALVESTON 


99 


We  come  now  to  the  first  marriage  ceremony  performed  by 
the  Very  Rev.  L.  C.  AI.  Chambodut : 

"On  the  4th  of  May,  1847,  I.  the  undersigned,  joined  in  the 
lawful  bonds  of  matrimony  Peter  Darras,  aged  21  years,  and 
Cecile  Hectorn,  aged  15  years.  The  witnesses  were  Francis 
Bachelier  and  John  Francis  Petit. 

"L.  C.  M.  Chambodut,  Miss.,  Tex." 

In  his  day,  this  beloved  rector  of  the  Cathedral  assisted  at 
no  fewer  than  469  marriages.  His  last  marriage  entry  reads  as 
follows : 

"Die  29  Septembris,  1879,  ego  infrascriptus  omissis  denunti- 
ationibus  et  mutuo  contrahentium  consensu  habito,  per  verba  de 
praesenti  matrimonio  conjunxi  B.  L.  Morse,  ex  loco  New  York, 
et  Luciam  Johnson,  ex  loco  Galveston,  filiam  Judge  R.  Johnson 
et  Mary  Johnson ;  praesentibus  testibus  Col.  H.  McCaleb,  Mrs. 
Mary  McCaleb  et  Mrs.  Sarah  Pearson. 

"L.    C.    M.    ClIAMBODUT,    \'.    G." 

While  St.  Mary's  Cathedral  was  building,  the  following  mar- 
riages took  place  in  the  old  wooden  church,  moved  out  into  the 
street :  Jean  Leonard  Wilkin  and  Jeanne  Pierre  Gayot,  Desire 
Greaux  and  Marie  Bouchard,  Ludwig  Petri  and  Gertrude  Plard- 
enberg,  Henry  Ruwalt  and  Helen  Reinarts,  John  Menton  and 
Catherine  Hoeflin,  Philip  Schaefer  and  Catherine  (ienglor,  An- 
dre F.mile  Bourge  and  Anna  Metzger.  I'enjamin  C.  hVanklin  and 
Bernice  Maxwell,  John  Herling  and  Wilhelmina  Koh,  Marc  Ber- 
trant  and  Helen  Kraus,  John  Dandt  and  Theresa  P.rokopf,  Wil- 
liam Warner  and  Catherine  Elwert.  William  P>akcr  and  Caroline 
Funke,  Max  Pannifax  and  Louisa  Moeller.  Daniel  Philips  and 
Jane  Opperman,  Nicholas  Flpert  and  Louisa  Ditmer,  I'Vcderic 
Stoppelberg  and  Fliza  Weber,  John  Jocku.sch  and  Elisa  Moellcr, 
Gustave  Young  and  I'rances  Schneider,  Theodore  Cliraud  and 
Catherine  Thorne,  Christian  Schaefer  and  Anna  Maria  Scheng. 
I'>ancis  Metzger  and  Anna  Lindmann,  Daniel  H.  Palais  and 
Mary  Shcng,  William  Dunkin  and  Flisa  r.iH.ird.  Joseph  Ta.'- 
quard  and  Lucitie  Guyot. 

The  first  couples  to  be  marricrl  in  the  new  St.  Mary's  (  athc 
dral    were:     Leonard    Ilirtzfelder  and    Barbara    Denzcr.    Hubert 
Wolilaiul  and  Elizabeth  Kuiitz,  Andrew  \erberne  and  I->edcrica 
Hitzfeld. 

But  here  this  review  must  end,  for  the  new  St.  Mary's  Cathe- 
dral connects  the  past  with  the  present,  as  is  shown,  too,  by  the 
marriage  records.  Notice  the  familiar  names  of  K.  McNaniara 
and  Mary  I'ritchard.  Peter  Maurcr  and  Liiria  Rabler,  Peter 
A.  Ratisseau  and  Rosa  A.  Gondermann.  John  Leduc  and  Joseph 


loo  HISTORY  OK  THE 

ine  Baulard,  \'ictor  J.  liaulard  and  C.  L.  Gillett,  Jean  Gay  and 
Armance  Gadifet,  Charles  H.  Leonard  and  Adeline  B.  Reilly. 
Solomon  B.  Wallis  and  Sarah  Labadie,  Clement  Girardin  and 
Justine  Hectorn,  Leonard  C.  Baudenon  and  Sophie  Rousseles, 
John  Michels  and  Mary  Magdalena  Maurer,  J.  B.  Stubbs  and 
Catiierine  L.  Kauffman,  J.  B.  Borelly  and  Eulalie  Denois,  F. 
J.  Gillet  and  Ambrosine  Bavoux.  Peter  Gengler  and  Helena  Her- 
mann, Thomas  Dignan  and  Bridget  Stack,  Bernard  Tiernan  and 
Marv  Ann  Conlan. 


Bisnc-)!'  C.  M.  DUBUIS 

Secon<l   Huhop  of  GsIvMton 


CHAPTER  X. 


THE  DIOCESE  OF  GALVESTON— 1847. 

In  1845  both  Father  Timon  and  Bishop  Odin  were  in  France. 
The  good  Bishop  wrote  to  his  friend  from  Paris,  May  30th,  tell- 
ing him  that  he  had  presented  his  memorial  to  the  Council  of  the 
Propagation  of  the  Faith,  but  ''as  yet  I  do  not  know  what  will 
be  the  result ;  I  have  given  them  as  good  an  idea  as  I  could  of  the 
wants  of  Texas,"  and  in  a  postscript  he  tells  him  that  "Mr. 
Etienne  is  very  much  opposed  to  the  erection  of  a  Bishopric  in 
Te.xas.  I  shall  say  nothing  about  it  when  in  Rome.  Mr.  Castro 
came  to  see  me  last  week  and  told  me  that  seventeen  thousand 
Swiss  were  going  to  move  to  his  grant.  There  will  be  twenty 
or  thirty  vessels  sailing  for  Texas  next  winter  from  Antwerp  to 
Port  Lavaca." 

On  August  1st,  1845,  he  again  wrote  to  Father  Timon  from 
Turin:  "I  have  asked  the  Superior  General  for  the  Sisters  of 
Charity  at  Galveston  and  San  Antonio.  I  do  not  know  if  he 
will  let  them  come.  Insist  upon  my  request,  perhaps  you  may 
be  able  to  obtain  it.  I  have  found  at  Lyons  five  or  six  subjects 
for  the  Mission  of  Texas.  They  are  all  deacons  or  sub-deacons. 
I  shall  send  them  to  Missouri  to  complete  their  theology  and  to 
learn  English."  He  was  solicitous  about  Castro's  colonists  and 
thought  of  going  to  Vienna  and  asking  the  Rcdemptorists  to 
come  out  to  care  for  them. 

On  August  8th,  1845,  '^^  again  wrote  to  Father  Timon  from 
Turin:  "Mr.  Durando,  whose  zeal  is  known  to  you,  advises 
me  to  open  a  college  at  San  Antonio.  The  Alamo  would  1)C  an 
admirable  place  for  the  site.  I  have  there  luore  than  four  acres 
of  land." 

In  September  he  wrote  from  Rome  :  "  I  have  been  here  since 
the  5th."  The  Holy  Father  Gregory  X\I  an<l  Cardinal  Fran- 
soni.  Prefect  of  the  Propaganda,  showed  liini  the  greate.st  con- 
sideration and  honor. 

He  spent  the  winter  traveling  about  Italy.  Spain.  Austria. 
Germany  and  France  seeking  priests  and  religious  w(jmen  an<l 
was  at  Havre  on  the  23rd  of  March  to  witness  the  departure  of 
Fathers  Dubuis  and  Viiraudon.  Messrs.  Donienech.  Lacour. 
Chambodut,  Charion.  Chazelle.  Padey.  deacons  or  clerics  of  the 
dioce.se  of  Lyons,  with  other  ecclesiastics  of  Spain.  Ireland  and 
Italy,  who  sailed  on  the  Elizabeth-Ellen. 

He  went  to  England  and  afterwards  to  Ireland  to  visit  the 


I02  IT  I  STORY  OF  THE 

seminaries  and  make  an  appeal  for  laborers.  "Four  will  leave 
after  Easter,  and  others  will  follow  later.  My  trip  into  Bel- 
gium has  secured  for  me  five  hundred  thousand  bricks  which 
will  be  transported  free  to  Galveston.  1  hope  to  construct  soon 
a  beautiful  church  at  Galveston,  the  principal  city  of  the  dio- 
cese." In  Belg;ium  he  secured  much  help  and  several  vocations. 
Germany  furnished  him  with  some  workers.  "The  Germar. 
priests  who  are  destined  for  Texas  will  leave  from  Antwerp 
with  the  immigrants.  The  greater  part  of  the  eclessiastics  who 
are  to  accompany  me  are  already  here  with  the  exception  of  the 
Piedmontese  and  Irish,  who  will  leave  after  Easter." 

In  1847  the  whole  State  of  Texas  was  erected  into  a  diocese 
and  Bishop  Odin  was  named  as  the  first  Bishop  of  Galveston. 
There  were  thirteen  priests  in  the  diocese.  The  Ursuline  Sis- 
ters, whose  glorious  story  has  just  been  told  in  their  Diamond 
Jubilee,  had  opened  their  convent  in  Galveston.  He  had  al- 
ready commenced  the  construction  of  his  Cathedral  and  on 
March  14,  1847,  the  cornerstone  was  laid. 

Laying  of  the  Corner-stone  of  St.  Mary's  Cathedral, 
March    14,    1847. 

DOCUMENT. 

Anno  reparatae   salutis   MDCCCXLVII, 

pridie  Idibus  Martii, 

SS.  Pii  Xoni  Summi  Pontificatus  anno  I, 

Americae  Independentiae  declaratae  et  vindicatae  anno  LXXI, 

Jacobo  K.  Polk  Americae  septentrionalis  statuum  unitorum 

praeside, 

Pinkney  J.  Henderson  status  Texani  gubernatore, 

Joanne  D.  Sydnor  civitatis  Galveston  praefecto, 

Revmus.  et  Illmus.  Joannes  Maria  Odin  Episcopus  Claudi- 

opolitanus  et  Yicarius  Apostolicus  de  Texas, 

Assistentibus   Revdis.   admodum  Joanne   Timon,   Congregationis 

Missionum    in  America  visitore,  et  Joanne  Brands, 

C.  M.,  Vic.  Gen., 

Et  Revdis.  Dnis.  Bartholo  maeo  Rollando,  C.  M.,  Ludovico  Cluadio 

Maria  Chambodut,  Matthaeo  Chazelle  et  Antonio 

Maria  Chaurion, 

Revdo.  admodum  Dno.  Joanne  Timon  coram  magna  populorum 

multitudine   Congregata  sermonem   habente, 

Lapidem  istum  primarium  Ecclesiae,  Deo  Optimo  Maximo, 

sub  invocatione  Sanctae  Mariae  Semper  Virginis 

Aedificandae, 

Solemniter  benedixit  et  in  fundamentis 

posuit. 

L.  C.  M.  CHAMBODUT. 


DIOCESE   OF   GALVESTON  IO3 

The  work  was  rushed  to  completion  and  on  XovemI)er  26.  1848, 
the  Cathedral  was  consecrated. 


Consecration  of  St.  Mary's  Cathedral, 
Xoz'eniber  26,   1848. 

DOCUMENT. 

Anno  reparatae  Salutis  ]\IDCCCXLVIII, 
Sexto  Kal.  Decembris, 
Ego,  Joannes  Maria  Odin,  C.  M., 
Episcopus  Galvestoniensis, 
Assistenti'bus  Revercndissimis  et  Illustrissimis  A'ntonio  Blanc 
Episcopo  Xeo-Aureliensi  et  Joanne  Timon,  C.  M.,  Episcopo 
Buffalensi ;  atque  Reverendis  Dominis  X.  J.  Perche,  capellano 
conventus  Ursulinarum  in  Xeo-Aurelia,  officio  archidaconi ; 
Eduardo  Clarke,  rectore  S.  Vincentii  Houstoniae,  et  Jacobo 
Giraudon,  missionario  ad  Lavaccam.  et  Joanne  Brands,  C.  M., 
officio  diaconi ;  Jacobo  R.  Miller,  missionario  Brazoriae,  et  Carolo 
Padey,  missionario  ad  Lavaccam,  officio  sudbiaconi  fungentibus ; 
Josepho  Anstaett  cantore ;  Eduardo  D'Hauw,  pastore  Ecclesiac 
Sancti  Josephi  Xeo-Aureliae,  et  Ricardo  Hennessy,  C.  M.,  magis- 
tris  Caerimoniaruni ;  nenon  magna  populorum  multitudinc  prae- 
sente ;  Ecclesian  nostram  Cathedralem  consecrari  et  Deo  Omnipo- 
tent! sub  invocatione  Beatae  \'irginis  Mariae  solcmnitcr  dedicavi ; 
c|uibus  finitis,  Reverendissimus  et  Illustrissimus  Episcojnis  Xeo- 
Aurelicnsis  Missam  Solemnem  celebravit,  infra  quam  Episcopus 
Bauffalcnsis,  qui  et  co  tempore  quo  consecratio  intra  ecclesiam 
fiebat.  foris  coram  populo  fuerat  sermocinatus,  scrnK)ncm   fecit. 

^  J.  M.,  Epus.  Galvestoniensis. 

*  Ant.  Epus.  Neo-Aureliensis. 

*  Joannes.  Ep.   Buffalensis. 

N.  J.  Perche,  Jacobus  Giraudon. 

E.  D'Hauw,  Joseph  Anstaett. 

James  A.   Miller.  Eduardus  A.  Clarkk. 

Richard  Hennessy,  Carolus  Padev, 

Jacobus  Fitzgerald,  Joannes  Brands, 

James  P.  Xash. 

Ill  1849  Bisho])  Odin  attended  tlic  ."Seventh  I'roviiicial  Cour.- 
cil  of  Baltimore  and  took  advantage  of  the  opportunity  to  go 
into  Canada  and  induced  the  Oblates  of  Mary  Immaculate  to 
take  charge  of  Brownsville  and  the  missions  along  the  Rio 
Grande,     He  took  with  him  Rev.  P.  Gaudet,  O.  M.  I.,  and  the 


104  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Rev.  p.  Soulerin.  O.  M.  I.  After  a  short  experience  they  with- 
drew, but  eighteen  months  afterwards  six  Oblate  Priests  under 
Father  Gaudet  took  up  the  work  anew. 

In  1852  Bishop  Odin  attended  the  First  Plenary  Council  of 
Baltimore. 

In  1853  Bishop  Odin  writes,  July  23,  from  Galveston,  that 
he  is  engaged  in  a  very  serious  work.  "We  are  trying  to  build 
an  institution  that  will  serve  as  a  Seminary  and  as  a  college  in 
the  meantime.  The  O'blate  Fathers  will  take  charge.  The 
workmen  are  already  busy,"  and  on  May  15,  1854,  he  wrote  to 
Rev.  J.  M.  ]\lignard:  "We  are  working  at  the  construction  of  a 
college  and  Semniary  which  the  Oblate  Fathers  will  direct.  The 
edifice  will  soon  be  finished  and  classes  will  open  in  October. 
I  promised  to  give  $8,000.00  for  this  work  and  I  have  paid  my 
total  contribution.  The  Oblates  have  agreed  to  raise  the  bal- 
ance." .  |j'  ^{^ 

In  a  letter  written  to  his  sister  in  1855  Bishop  Odin  sum- 
marizes conditions :  "  The  clergy  of  Texas  is  composed  of  forty 
priests  and  one  poor  bishop.  All  have  to  make  long  trips  in 
order  to  carry  the  consolations  of  religion  to  the  scattered  peo- 
ple of  this  vast  State.  I  have  had  the  great  sorrow  of  losing 
seven  priests  in  the  space  of  one  year.  Yellow  fever  has  deso- 
lated the  southern  portion  of  the  State." 

"The  religious  women  of  the  Incarnate  Word,  whom  I 
brought  from  Lyons  on  my  last  trip  to  Europe,  spent  seven  or 
eight  months  at  Galveston  to  study  English  and  Spanish.  I 
have  sent  them  to  Brownsville,  in  the  Rio  Grande  valley.  We 
shall  have  to  build  additions  to  the  two  convents  of  the  Ursu- 
lines  at  Galveston  and  San  Antonio.  The  first  has  more  than  a 
hundred  and  sixty  girls  and  the  latter  more  than  a  hundred. 
The  Brothers  of  Mary,  whom  I  also  obtained  on  my  last  trip, 
have  a  very  well  attended  school  at  San  Antonio." 

On  June  26,  1856,  he  wrote  to  his  sister,  Josephine:  "Eight 
missionaries  are  in  the  Rio  Grande  valley  and  I  propose  to  add 
four  more.  I  propose  to  establish  a  new  convent  at  Laredo." 
That  letter  also  gives  an  interesting  account  of  the  colonization 
attempted  by  the  Phalanges  of  Fourier.  They  were  conducted 
to  Texas  by  Victor  Considerant.  "Some  of  them  have  stopped 
in  Galveston,  and  have  returned  to  the  practice  of  their  reli- 
gion. I  am  going  to  send  a  priest  to  Dollar,  where  they  are 
establishing  their  colony.  I  hope  they  will  return  to  the  true 
faith." 

On  July  12,  1858,  he  wrote  to  Mr.  Duplay,  superior  of  the 
Seminary  at  Lyons:  "June  20th,  the  close  of  retreat  for  the 
priests,  was  followed  by  a  diocesan  Synod.  Mr.  Dubuis  has  con- 
structed a  beautiful  church  at  San  Antonio  and  I  will  consecrate 


DIOCESE   OF   GALVESTON  IO5 

it  August  15th.  The  Oblate  Fathers  have  built  an  elegant 
church  at  Brownsville.  Pentecost  I  gave  confirmation  at  Gal- 
veston to  sixty,  of  whom  eight  had  been  recently  baptized.  Our 
educational  institutions  are  rendering  the  most  signal  services, 
they  are  more  flourishing  than  ever,  despite  the  efforts  of  preju- 
dice and  bad  faith,  launched  against  them.  My  financial  diffi- 
culties are  great.  We  have  to  do  so  much  to  respond  to  the 
wants  of  our  population,  constantly  increasing." 

On  June  20,  i860,  Monsig-nor  Blanc,  Archbishop  of  New  Or- 
leans, died.  At  this  time  Bishop  Odin  was  engrossed  in  his  la- 
bors in  Texas.  A  letter  tells  the  story.  "Texas  is  filling  up 
so  rapidly  that  I  shall  have  to  secure  more  priests.  I  have  onh- 
forty-six  and  I  need  sixty.  It  is  difficult  to  get  away  and  .so 
I  must  try  and  attract  new  helpers  by  letter.  The  diocese  pos- 
sesses forty-five  churches.  A  new  convent  has  been  opened  at 
Liberty  on  the  Trinity  River.  The  Ursulines  took  possession 
the  first  of  January  and  the  house  is  filled.  I  have  been  prom- 
ised the  Christian  Brothers  for  next  year.  In  a  short  time  we 
shall  commence  a  hospital  at  Galveston.  The  Sisters  of  Charity 
will  take  charge.  The  railroads,  which  are  being  constructed  in 
Texas,  have  drawn  many  strangers.  Last  year  the  Benedictine 
Fathers  came  to  establish  a  monastery  of  their  order  in  the  dio- 
cese. I  have  confided  many  missions  to  them,  and  I  have  given 
them  the  old  property  of  San  Jose.  Fifteen  days  ago  I  intro- 
duced Franciscan  Recollects.  There  are  only  two  as  yet,  but 
more  will  come." 

On  the  19th  of  April,  1861,  the  Bishop  of  Texas  was  called 
by  the  Sovereign  Pontiff  to  the  Archbishopric  of  New  Orleans. 
He  wrote  to  the  Superior  General:  "This  sad  news  has  afflicted 
me  greatly  so  that  for  many  weeks  I  have  not  been  able  to  de- 
cide to  accept  so  heavy  a  burden."  On  the  19th  of  May.  1861, 
he  arrived  in  New  Orleans  and  on  Trinity  Sunday.  May  26th. 
he  was  enthroned.  His  love  for  Texas  was  voiced  in  his  first 
pastoral  letter."  For  the  more  than  twenty  years  that  wc  have 
lived  in  Texas,  we  have  received  from  all  the  people  the  evidence 
of  good  will  and  affection.  How  difficult  it  has  been  for  us  In 
leave  Texas,  to  which  we  had  vowed  our  life-work  with  the  liopc 
that  there  our  ashes  would  find  repose.  It  was  a  deep  sorrow- 
to  separate  ourselves  from  the  venerable  priests,  religious  and 
secular,  who  were  associated  in  our  labors  and  who  marie  such 
generous  sacrifices,  and  who  submitted  to  so  much  privation, 
fatigue  and  suffering  to  help  us  plant  the  Cross  of  Jesus  Christ 
in  a  land  where  it  was  little  known.  Loving  them  with  all  the 
tenderness  of  our  heart  we  cheri.sh  the  conviction  that  death 
alone  can  separate  us." 


CHAPTER  XI. 


BISHOP  JOHN  TIMON. 

One  of  the  remarkable  priests  connected  with  the  history  of 
Texas  after  the  withdrawal  of  the  Franciscan  Monks  is  Father 
John  Timon,  first  Prefect-Apostolic  of  Texas,  afterwards  first 
Bishop  of  Bufifalo,  New  York,  and  the  choice  of  most  of  the 
Bishops  of  the  country  for  the  Archiepiscopal  See  of  Baltimore 
after  the  death  of  Archbishop  Eggleston. 

This  great  priest  and  orator  was  born  at  Conewago,  Pennsyl- 
vania, February  12,  1797,  of  Irish  parents.  Conewago  had  been 
a  Catholic  settlement  since  1740.  When  he  made  up  his  mind 
to  be  a  priest,  he  cast  his  lot  with  the  Vincentian  Fathers,  and 
came  to  the  Barrens  in  Perry  County,  Missouri,  to  finish  his 
studies.  In  June,  1825.  he  was  ordained  at  St.  Louis  by  Bishop 
Rosati.  Ten  years  later  the  Vincentians  of  the  United  States 
were  formed  into  a  separate  province,  and  Father  Timon  became 
the  first  \^isitor. 

Before  his  appointment  to  this  office,  as  well  as  while  Visitor, 
he  was  devoted  to  missionary  work,  and  made  with  Father  Odin, 
at  least  one  visit  to  Texas  during  the  time  of  its  struggle  for 
independence.  In  1838  Bishop  Blanc  of  New  Orleans  wrote 
Bishop  Rosati  of  St.  Louis  and  also  Father  Timon  that  the  Holy 
See  wanted  a  report  on  the  condition  of  religion  in  Texas.  Father 
Timon  at  the  request  of  Bishop  Blanc  undertook  the  work.  Late 
in  December,  1838,  he  reached  Galveston,  and  there  on  the  feast 
of  the  Holy  Innocents  said  the  first  Mass,  perhaps,  ever  offered 
on  the  island.  The  same  day  he  started  for  Houston,  then  the 
capital  of  the  new  Republic.  After  some  difficulty,  he  succeeded 
in  finding  lodging  for  himself — the  town  was  crowded  because 
of  a  meeting  of  the  legislature — and  many  were  chary  of  the 
strangers.  But  so  well  did  he  manage  his  opportunity,  and  .so 
good  an  impression  did  he  make,  that  on  December  3Tst,  he  was 
invited  to  speak  before  the  law-makers  of  the  new  Republic,  and 
won  their  sympathy,  as  well  as  the  friendship  of  General  Sam 
Houston. 

On  January  9th,  1839,  he  returned  to  Galveston,  and  arranged 
for  the  purchase  of  the  ground  on  which  the  present  Cathedral 
stands. 

Father  Timon  now  returned  to  New  Orleans  and  made  his 


DIOCESE   OF   GALVESTON  IO7 

report  to  Bishop  Blanc,  and  then  made  his  way  back  to  St.  Louis 
again. 

Although  Father  Timon  had  refused  the  appointment  as  Co- 
Adjutor  Bishop  of  St.  Louis  in  September.  183^,  he  was  per- 
suaded to  accept  the  Prefecture  Apostolic  of  Texas  April  12th, 
1840.  He  appointed  Father  Odin  \'ice-Prefect-Apostolic  and 
sent  him  at  once  to  Texas. 

On  December  5th,  1840,  he  came  a  second  time  to  Galveston, 
pushed  the  building  of  a  church,  and  went  on  to  Austin,  now 
the  capital,  to  meet  Father  Odin.  He  presented  letters  from 
Cardinal  Fransoni,  Prefect  of  the  Propaganda,  to  President  Mira- 
beau  G.  Lamar,  which  were  virtually  the  recognition,  by  the 
Pope,  of  the  Republic  of  Texas.  On  December  23rd,  1840,  he 
said  Mass  in  Austin,  and  on  the  same  day  preached  at  the  Capitol 
With  the  assistance  of  Mr.  de  Saligny,  minister  of  France  to 
Texas,  he  succeeded  in  having  presented  to  the  legislature  a  bill, 
prepared  by  Father  Odin,  for  the  return  to  the  Church  Authorit\- 
all  the  old  Franciscan  missions  and  churches. 

Early  in  January  he  returned  to  Galveston,  and  gave  on  Janu- 
ary 18th,  1841,  confirmation  for  the  first  time  on  the  island  to 
one  of  his  own  converts.  After  this  he  went  back  again  to  his 
duties  as  Visitor  of  the  Vincentians.  But  zeal,  learning  and 
piety  such  as  his  was  not  to  be  given  ease ;  in  a  few  years  he  was 
selected  as  the  first  Bishop  of  Buffalo.  A  wonderful  record  of 
conversions  to  the  faith,  and  development  of  the  Church  mark 
his  labors  there.  He  made  two  trips  to  Galveston  as  Bishop  o^ 
Buffalo,  to  preach  at  the  cornerstone  laying,  and  again  at  the 
consecration  of  the  Cathedral. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


BISHOP  CLAUDE  MARIE  DUBUIS,  D.  D. 
Second  Bishop  of  Galveston. 

(The  facts  in  the  life  of  Bishop  Dubuis  have  been  gleaned 
largely  from  the  "Vie  de  Monseigneur  Dubuis,  L'Apotre  du 
Texas,  Par  I'Abbe  J.  P."  It  is  rather  singular  that  excellent 
lives  of  both  Archbishop  Odin  and  Bishop  Dubuis  have  been 
published  in  France,  and  have  had  extensive  circulation,  while 
nothing  of  permanent  form  has  seen  the  light  of  day  in  Texas, 
which  they  both  served  long  and  well.) 

Claude  Marie  Dubuis  was  born  at  Teche,  a  short  distance 
from  Roanne,  France,  March  8,  1817.  He  was  named  after  his 
uncle,  who  was  the  Vicar  of  Violay.  His  parents  were  small 
farmers.  From  childhood  he  loved  the  open  spaces  and  was  the 
only  youth  of  his  native  village  who  was  an  expert  swimmer. 

His  early  education  was  given  by  his  mother,  and  in  his  aftei 
life  as  a  bishop  he  boasted  that  his  mother's  advice  and  counsel 
had  been  and  was  ever  his  best  guidance.  It  was  not  easy  to 
acquire  an  education  then  in  France.  The  revolution  had  spent 
itself,  but  its  views  prevailed.  France  had  no  need  of  savants. 
The  universities  remained  open  under  difficulties,  but  there  were 
no  schools  for  the  poor. 

On  May  12,  1827,  he  made  his  first  holy  communion,  and 
his  discerning  uncle.  Abbe  Dubost,  seeing  the  evidence  of  a 
priestly  vocation,  took  him  to  his  home  and  for  five  years 
taught  him  Latin  and  other  secondary  requirements. 

In  1832  he  entered  the  secondary  ecclesiastical  institute 
I'Argentiere,  conducted  by  the  priests  of  the  Society  of  St. 
Irenaeus,  diocesan  missionaries  of  Lyons.  He  knew  no  Greek 
and  they  thrust  him  back  into  the  third-year  class,  and  to  the 
chagrin  of  his  parents  he  returned  home  and  for  two  years 
helped  to  farm.  Attaining  his  eighteenth  year  he  renewed  his 
studies  under  a  private  instructor,  and  in  1836  entered  the  Petit 
Seminaire  of  Saint-Jodard.  In  1840  he  entered  the  Grand  Semi- 
naire  of  Lyons,  was  ordained  priest  June  i,  1844,  and  was  as- 
signed to  St.  Martin  de  Fontaine  near  Lyons. 

When  Bishop  Odin,  Vicar-Apostolic  of  Texas,  visited  Lyons 
and  made  an  appeal  for  priests,  Father  Dubuis  volunteered  to  go 
to  Texas.  The  Archbishop  of  Lyons  readily  consented,  but  his 
parents  were  reluctant  to  grant  their  consent.  Bishop  Odin 
appealed  personally  to  his  father,  and  in  February,  1846,  Father 


DIOCESE   OF   GALVESTON  lOQ 

Dubuis  and  eight  clerical  companions  and  three  future  Ursuline 
Sisters  left  Lyons  for  Paris.  They  embarked  at  Havre,  March 
20,  1846,  and  reached  New  Orleans  ]\Iay  25th.  They  went  up 
to  St.  Louis  and  Father  Dubuis  entered  the  college  at  the  Bar- 
rens to  learn  English.  After  six  months  he  set  out  for  Galves- 
ton, where  he  arrived  January  4,  1847.  He  was  immediately 
assigned  to  Castroville.  Belgians,  Hollanders,  Hanoverians, 
Prussians,  Westphalians,  Huns  and  Austrians  composed  the  pop- 
ulation of  1,300  souls.  In  three  weeks  he  preached  in  the  native 
tongue,  which  he  declared  to  be  a  combination  of  German. 
Spanish  and  French.  There  was  no  bigotry  and  many  were 
eager  for  religious  instruction.  W^ithin  a  short  period  five 
hundred  had  gone  to  communion. 

His  own  description  of  his  capture  in  June  of  that  year  by 
the  Comanche  Indians,  their  regard  and  respect  for  "The  Cap- 
tain of  the  Church"  suddenly  terminated  by  their  securing  some 
whisky,  is  told  with  considerable  naivete. 

Father  Chazelle  was  assigned  to  help  hin:.  liul  soon  was 
taken  down  by  typhoid  and  died.  Then  Father  Domeneck  came 
as  assistant,  and  with  the  help  of  a  few  carpenters  they  built  a 
church  which  cost  three  thousand  francs,  and  on  Easter  Sunday, 
1850,  the  first  mass  was  celebrated  in  the  new  structure.  In 
1852  he  went  to  France  to  obtain  students  and  priests  for  the 
rapidly  growing  diocese  of  Galveston.  He  succeeded  in  obtain- 
ing fourteen,  but  the  Propagation  of  the  Faith,  in  the  lack  of 
credentials  from  I^ishop  Odin,  refused  to  pay  the  passage.  He 
conducted  his  charges  to  Flavre,  engaged  fourteen  first-class 
places  and  then  assumed  the  duties  of  a  physician  (in  board 
"The  Queen  of  the  Sea"  to  help  pay  their  way. 

On  his  return  to  Galveston  lie  was  named  X'icar-Gcneral 
and  sent  to  San  .Antonio.  He  l)uilt  St.  Mary's  Church,  doing 
much  of  the  manual  labor  himself,  and  refused  to  give  up  his 
charge  when  his  health  failed  because  his  conscience  would  wA 
permit  his  leaving  eight  thoup.nnd  Catholics  without  a  priest  in 
the  city. 

He  experienccfl  the  bigotry  of  Know- Nothing  days.  InU  wn^ 
fearless  in  the  face  of  danger  and  persecution. 

When  I')ishop  Odin  was  transferred  to  New  Orleans  l-'athc' 
Dubuis  was  appointed  P.ishop  of  (ialvcston  to  succeed  him. 
October  2T,  1862.  He  was  consecrated  in  the  chapel  of  the 
theological  seminary  at  Lyons  by  ArchMshop  Odin  on  the  23rd 
of  November,  1862. 

P.ishop  Dubuis  immediately  started  for  Texas.  When  r<ady 
to  sail  he  had  sixty  all  told,  seminarians,  priests  and  rehgions 
women,  in  his  partv.  among  whom  was  John  ,\nthony  T'orcst. 
afterwards  Bishop  of  San  Antonio,  and  Thomas  Mfslin.  des- 
tined  to  be   Bi.shop   of   Natchez.      They   had    spiritual   cxerrises 


1  10  HISTORY  OF  THE 

daily  and  a  lesson  in  theology,  and  the  voyage  lasted  sixty  days. 
They  reached  New  Orleans  April  4,  1863.  The  Civil  War  was 
at  its  height  and  the  city  had  heen  taken  the  previous  April  by 
the  fleet  of  Farragut,  and  they  were  all  forced  to  take  the  oath 
of  allegiance  and  promise  not  to  take  up  arms  against  the  United 
States.  Bishop  Dubuis  left  his  seminarians  at  New  Orleans 
and  took  a  boat  to  Matamoras.  Galveston  had  been  taken  in 
January,  but  the  Federals  were  repulsed  after  three  days  and 
obliged  to  give  up  the  city.  The  South  was  far  fronii  despairing. 
It  was  determined  to  conquer  or  die. 

In  the  midst  of  all  these  trials  Bishop  Dubuis  arrived  in  his 
diocese.  The  I'rsuline  Convent  had  'been  turned  into  a  military 
hospital. 

At  the  end  of  the  year,  finding  the  need  of  priests  importu- 
nate, he  determined  to  bring  back  from  New  Orleans  the  semin- 
arians whom  he  had  left  there  to  complete  their  studies.  Under 
date  of  April  3,  1864.  Archbishop  Odin  writes:  "We  have  the 
consolation  of  having  Bishop  Dubuis  at  New  Orleans.  He  arrived 
Easter  Sunday,  after  a  long  and  trying  journey  across  Texas 
and  Louisiana."  He  started  back  to  Texas  in  May,  leading  his 
band  of  priests  and  students,  and  had  to  pass  through  'both  the 
armies.  One  little  wagon  conveyed  all  their  effects  and  they 
footed  the  bad  roads  and  waded  the  swamps.. 

The  war  ended,  Bishop  Dubuis  attended  the  Second  Plenary 
Council  of  Baltimore,  October  7  to  21,  1866.  He  was  late  in 
arriving  because  he  had  been  in  France. 

In  1852  Bishop  Odin  had  brought  the  first  Sisters  of  the 
Incarnate  Word  to  Texas,  and  they  had  later  established  schools 
at  Brownsville,  Victoria  and  Houston.  He  had  made  frequent 
requests  for  the  Sisters  of  Charity  in  vain,  but  Bishop  Dubuis, 
seeing  the  necessity  of  hospitals,  asked  Mother  Angelique  of 
Lyons  to  train  subjects  who  would  be  able  to  care  for  the  sick 
and  aged  in  his  diocese.  "Jesus  Christ  suffering  in  a  multi- 
tude of  poor,  sick  and  infirm  of  every  kind  appeals  to  you  for 
aid."  On  September  23,  1866,  in  the  chapel  of  the  Incarnate 
Word  at  Lyons  three  young  women — Sister  Mary  Blandine, 
Sister  Mary  Joseph  and  Sister  Mary  Ange — received  the  habit 
of  the  "Sisters  of  Charity  of  the  Incarnate  Word"  at  the  hands 
of  Bishop  Dubuis.  Two  days  later  they  left  with  the  Bishop 
for  America,  and  from  this  humble  foundation  has  grown  the 
mighty  army  of  devoted  souls  who  march  under  the  banners  of 
the  Incarnate  Word  and  spread  from  Galveston  and  San  Antonio, 
by  the  ministry  of  service,  the  gospel  of  gentle  mercy. 

On  his  return  from  the  Council  he  was  compelled  to  go 
immediately  to  the  Rio  Grande  territory  that  had  been  ravaged 
bv  storm  and  flood. 


DIOCESE   OF   GALVESTON  III 

In  1869  he  held  the  Priests*  Retreat  and  Diocesan  Svnod. 
Twenty-three  priests  were  present.  He  attended  the  \'atican 
Council  the  same  year.  He  was  a  strong  advocate  of  Papal 
Infallibility.  He  arrived  in  Galveston  March  17,  1870.  He 
had  completed  a  visit  of  the  North  and  East  of  the  diocese  on 
horseback  on  his  way  home,  and  he  was,  as  a  Texan,  charac- 
teristically proud  of  his  horse.  In  fifteen  days  he  commenced 
a  visit  of  the  West,  and  confirmed  more  than  fifteen  thousand 
children  and  adults  on  both  trips. 

In  1874  Rome  consented  on  his  petition  to  the  division  of 
the  diocese.  San  Antonio  and  the  Vicariate-Apostolic  of 
Brownsville  were  established.  Bishop  Dubuis  chose  to  remain 
in  Galveston,  and  as  the  change  resultant  from  the  division  ren- 
dered more  priests  necessary,  he  started  for  France.  On  the 
boat  he  met  with  an  accident  and  broke  his  arm.  He  believed 
that  Our  Lady  of  Lourdes  restored  the  use  of  his  arm.  On 
his  return  to  Galveston  he  was  able  to  travel  by  rail  from  New 
York.  A  new  era  of  prosperity  had  set  in.  There  had  been 
a  marvelous  growth  of  religious  women  and  convent  schools. 
His  confirmation  tours  demanded  great  effort  on  his  part,  for 
his  health  was  failing,  and  in  1877.  while  on  a  visit  to  Rome, 
he  asked  for  a  Co-Adjutor.  Rt.  Rev.  P.  Dufal.  C.  S.  C,  Bishop 
of  Delcon  and  Vicar-Apostolic  of  Bengal,  was  appointed,  with 
the  right  of  succession,  in  May,  1878. 

Bishop  Dubuis  returned  to  France  in  1880,  and  shortly  after 
his  departure  Bishop  Dufal  resigned.  In  June,  1881.  i'ishop 
Dubuis  resigned  and  \'ery  Rev.  John  Mayer  of  New  ^'ork  was 
appointed  to  the  See  of  Galveston,  but  sent  back  the  bulls,  and  or. 
.April  30.  1882,  Bishop  Gallagher  was  consecrated  as  Bi.shop  of 
Canopus  and  Administrator  of  Galveston.  l?ishop  Dubuis  was 
finally  appointed  Archbishop  in  partibus  infidclium  and  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  days  in  France. 

In  1894  he  celebrated  his  golden  juhike  and  tlu-  incnior'o 
of  the  fine,  zealous  apostolic  work  of  the  past  was  cvidenccl 
by  the  gratitude  and  praise  of  his  old  friends  in  Texas. 

He  died  May  21,  1895,  at  \'ernai.son,  France.  His  remain- 
were  interred  at  Coutriuvre. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


BISHOP  NICHOLAS  ALOYSIUS  GALLAGHER. 

Third  Bishop  of  Galveston. 

Nicholas  Aloysius  Gallagher  was  'born  in  Temperanceville, 
Belmont  County,  Ohio,  on  the  ninth  of  February,  1846. 

The  Gallaghers  were  natives  of  the  County  Meath,  Ireland. 
Edward  Gallagher,  the  grandfather,  was  one  of  the  aides  of 
Lord  Edward  Fitzgerald  and  Robert  Emmett  during  the  stormv 
days  of  1798.  Compelled  to  flee  from  his  native  land  to  escape 
the  vengeance  that  England  inflicted  on  the  brave,  patriotic  and 
liberty-loving  sons  of  Ireland,  he  emigrated  to  America  and 
settled  in  Chester  County,  Pennsylvania.  A  few  years  later  the 
family  removed  to  Belmont  County,  Ohio. 

John  Gallagher  and  Mary  Brinton,  the  parents  of  Nicholas, 
were  Godfearing,  Christian  souls,  as  appears  from  the  following 
appreciation  in  the  Catholic  Telegraph  from  the  pen  of  Father 
Jacquet  upon  the  death  of  John  Gallagher  in  1859:  "Jo^" 
Gallagher  was  a  worthy  man  and  true  Christian.  He  frequently 
spent  two  or  three  hours  a  day  in  prayer;  attended  mass  regu- 
larly at  Washington,  five  miles  distant ;  and  received  Holy  Com- 
munion every  month.  His  house  was  the  home  of  the  priest. 
It  was  like  a  church  where  the  Catholics  of  the  neighborhood 
fulfilled  their  Christian  duties.  It  was  always  open — free  of 
charge — to  the  orphan,  the  poor  and  the  afflicted.  Many  will 
miss  him,  I  the  most." 

With  parents  of  such  solid  Catholic  piety,  it  was  but  natural 
that  Nicholas  was  raised  in  a  spirit  of  prayer  and  generous  self- 
sacrifice.  When  but  ten  years  of  age  he  was,  like  another 
Samuel,  placed  by  his  devout  parents  under  the  charge  of  a 
priest  of  God — the  Pev.  J.  M.  Tacquet,  of  Coshocton,  Ohio.  With 
this  saintly  tutor  as  his  guide  he  soon  learned  to  realize  the 
vanity  of  the  things  of  the  world  and  the  lasting  worth  of  Chris- 
tian virtue,  and  he  determined  to  dedicate  himself  entirely  to 
God. 

Bidding  adieu  to  his  home,  he  entered  Mount  St.  Mary's  of 
the  West  in  September,  1862.  Here  he  took  up,  and  completed, 
his  course  of  philosophy  and  theology.  So  proper  was  he  in 
deportment,  so  attentive  to  his  studies,  so  conscientious  in  living 
up  to  the  Seminary  rules,  that  he  was  termed  by  his  fellow 
students  "the  future  bi=hon"  of  his  class.  But  mindful  of  the 
injunction  of  the  wise  man :     "Mens  sana  in  corpore  sano,"  he 


BISHOP  N.  A.  GALLAGHfcR 

Tliird   Bishop  of  Galveston 


DIOCESE  OF   GALVESTON  II3 

always  found  time  for  athletic  sports,  and  in  these  he  was  not 
easily  excelled,  though  his  modest  demeanor  never  allowed  the 
envy  of  anyone  to  be  excited.  He  received  tonsure  and  minor 
orders  from  the  hands  of  Bishop  Purcell  on  September  20,  1867; 
subdeaconship,  on  December  21,  1868;  deaconship,  on  December 
22,  1868;  and,  on  Christmas  Day  of  the  same  year,  he  was  or- 
dained priest  by  his  beloved  Ordinary,  the  Rt.  Rev.  S.  H.  Rose- 
crans. 

For  many  years  Bishop  Gallagher  was  known  as  a  zealous 
and  talented  priest  of  the  diocese  of  Columbus.  From  1869  to 
1871,  he  was  assistant  at  St.  Patrick's  Church,  Columbus.  From 
1871  to  1876,  he  was  president  of  the  diocesan  seminary.  In 
1876,  he  was  appointed  pastor  of  St.  Patrick's,  where  his  unas- 
suming ways,  his  deep  piety,  and  his  extraordinary  executive 
powers  are  still  held  in  cherished  benediction. 

Upon  the  death  of  Bishop  Rosecrans,  Father  Gallagher  was 
appointed  administrator  of  the  diocese.  This  arduous  office 
he  discharged  with  such  rare  prudence,  energy,  and  ability,  that 
he  was  selected  by  the  Holy  See  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by 
the  resignation  of  the  Rt.  Rev.  P.  Dufal,  D.  D.,  administrator 
of  the  diocese  of  Galveston.  He  was,  accordingly,  consecrated 
titular  Bishop  of  Canopus  and  Bishop-Administrator  of  the  Dio- 
cese of  Galveston  in  St.  Marv's  Cathedral.  Galveston,  April  30. 
1882.  by  the  late  Rt.  Rev.  Edward  Fitzgerald,  D.  D.,  of  Little 
Rock.  Upon  the  promotion  of  Bishop  Dubuis  to  an  arch- 
bishopric, in  1892.  Bishop  Gallagher  became,  what  he  had  vir- 
tually been  since  his  consecration  in   1882.  Bishop  of  Galveston. 

Bishop  Gallagher  labored  quietly  but  assiduously  for  the  good 
of  religion,  and  his  labors  bore  fruit.  This  a  comparison  of 
the  Church  Directory  of  1882  with  the  Church  Directory  of  t<)i8 
abundantly  proves. 

In  1882  the  undivided  diocese  of  Galveston  (the  .see  of  Dal- 
las was,  at  Bishop  Gallagher's  request,  formed  out  of  the  nortli- 
ern  portion  of  Galveston  diocese  in  1800).  boasted  43  priests. 
50  churches  and  chapels,  2  ecclesiastical  students.  3  parochial 
schools,  I  college  for  boys,  12  academics  for  young  ladies,  i 
orphanage,  i  hospital,  107  religious  women  and  a  Catholic  popu- 
lation of  30,000  souls. 

In  1918  the  diocese  of  Galveston  had  100  priests,  iot)  churches 
and  chapels,  35  stations,  a  diocesan  seminary  (the  only  f)nc  in 
the  South  outside  of  New  r)rlcans),  40  parochial  .schools.  4  col- 
leges for  boys,  9  academics  for  young  ladies,  i  orpliangc.  i  li')nic 
for  the  aged.  7  hospitals.  516  "religious  women  and  a  Catholic 
population  of  70.000  souls. 

Under  his  zealous  care  of  church  and  school  there  came  to 
the  diocese  the  Jesuit  Fathers,  who  took  charge  of  St.  Mary  » 


114  HISTORY   OF   THF. 

Uiiiversity  and  have  ever  been  the  zealous  helpers  of  the  diocesan 
clergy,  the  Uasilians.  the  Joscphites.  the  Paulists.  the  Dominicans, 
and  the  Ohlates  of  Mary  Inmiaculate  returned  anew  to  the  ter- 
ritory. He  introduced  the  Sisters  of  Charity  of  St.  Vincent  de 
Paul  at  Austin  and  Waco.  He  induced  the  Sisters  of  the  Holy 
Family  (colored)  to  labor  among  the  negro  Catholics  of  the 
diocese.  He  brought  the  Good  Shepherd  Sisters  to  Houston. 
He  built  up  a  new  body  of  clergy  and  when  he  passed  away  none 
of  the  priestly  workers  who  were  in  the  diocese  in  1882  sur- 
vived him. 

In  1901  Bishop  Gallagher  bought  the  old  Sylvan  Hotel  at 
La  Porte  and  opened  his  own  seminary  with  the  Basilian  Fathers 
in  charge. 

In  1907  he  celebrated  the  Silver  Jubliee  of  his  Episcopacy 
The  evidence  of  the  place  he  held  in  Galveston  is  recorded  by  the 
Galveston  Tribune  in  its  description  of  the  first  night  of  the 
celebration. 

"Never  in  the  history  of  Galveston,  perhaps,  has  there  been 
such  a  parade  of  Catholic  men,  and  never  in  the  history  of  the 
Grand  opera  house  has  the  playhouse  been  graced  with  such  an 
assemblage  of  bishops,  prelates  and  clergy  as  last  night  at  the 
mass  meeting  held  in  honor  of  the  silver  jubilee  anniversary  of 
Bishop  Gallagher.  Higher  tributes  of  love,  veneration,  esteem 
and  well-wishes  were  never  paid  a  man  either  as  a  dignitary  of 
a  church  or  a  private  citizen  than  were  accorded  Bishop  N.  A. 
Gallagher  last  night.  Nearly  2,000  men  paraded  the  streets  in 
his  honor  and  joined  in  the  eulogies  to  his  name  in  the  mass 
meeting  assembled. 

Few  are  the  occasions  where  men  have  been  made  to  feel 
so  clearly  the  appreciation  of  the  people  among  whom  they  have 
labored  so  faithfully  for  years.  Seldom  do  men  assemble  by 
hundreds  to  attest  in  visible  manner  the  love  and  esteem  in  which 
they  hold  a  fellow  mortal,  and  the  occasion  last  night,  by  its 
heartiness,  sincerity  and  every  token  of  veneration,  will  doubtless 
live  long  in  the  memory  of  Bishop  Gallagher. 

A  man.  and  a  godly  man,  who  has  labored  for  twenty-five 
years  in  a  community,  building  and  constructing,  ministering  to 
his  people,  and  bringing  honor  to  the  city  in  which  he  resides. 
Bishop  Gallagher  was  forced  to  listen  to  words  of  praise  and 
commendation  from  which  he,  in  his  modesty,  would  have 
shrunk. 

Not  only  the  Catholic  laity  of  the  city  attested  to  Bishop 
Gallagher  the  joy  it  gave  them  to  assist  in  celebrating  his  silver 
jubilee,  but  Galveston,  as  a  city,  did  honor  to  its  beloved  citizen." 

Speaking   for  the   laity,   the   Hon.    Charles   J.    Stubbs   voiced 
their  admiration.     "Next  in  importance  you  have  our  gratitude 


DIOCESE   OF   GAL\^STON  II5 

for  the  saintly  sisters  you  have  brought  to  us :  those  angels  of 
the  poor.  They  carry  the  light  of  their  holy  lives  amid  the  en- 
circling gloom  of  poverty,  sickness  and  death.  They  are  sus- 
tenance of  the  helpless  infant  and  the  aged  infirm.  They  are 
the  beatitudes  incarnate,  the  corporal  works  of  mercy,  moving 
in  forms  of  flesh.  There  are  360  of  those  holy  women,  working 
in  every  field  of  charity  and  of  spiritual  and  intellectual  devel- 
opments. There  were  'but  fifty  here  twenty-five  years  ago.  You 
have  established  a  diocesan  seminary  for  the  education  of  young 
men  for  the  priesthood.  You  have  increased  the  number  of 
churches  and  chapels  from  twenty-five  to  ninety-one,  and  every 
cross  and  spire  and  altar  pinnacle  is  a  silent  prayer  for  your  sal- 
vation. Thirty-five  stations,  that  is  to  say,  places  where  at  fixed 
intervals  mass  is  celebrated,  have  been  established.  There  were 
none  before  your  coming.  There  was  one  hospital  when  ydu 
came;  now  we  have  seven.  The  parochial  school  system  is  prac- 
tically due  to  your  efforts.  There  were  two  parochial  schools 
when  you  came ;  we  have  thirty-two  now.  Boys'  colleges  and 
girls'  academies  have  sprung  up  in  increased  numbers.  These 
are  your  works. 

"Your  power  and  authority  we  acknowledge.  Your  min- 
istrations and  your  sympathies  we  appreciate.  We  desire  to 
express  to  you  the  soul  felt  sentiments  of  gratitude  and  love  and 
honor.  Is  the  voice  of  the  people  the  voice  of  God?  So  let  it 
be.  Today  the  voice  of  the  people  is  one  of  blessings  upon  you 
and  thanksgiving  to  the  God  that  sent  you.  Your  life  has  been 
a  pure,  clear  stream  growing  in  beauty  and  majesty  as  it  flows 
toward  the  sea.  You  have  .scattered  the  sunlight  of  faith  and 
hope.  Sweet  flowers  of  charity  blossom  as  you  pass.  Long  may 
you  live  and  may  honors  be  added  to  your  years.  And  at  life's 
end,  beyond  the  veil,  may  you  rank  among  the  heavenly  hier- 
archy, and  may  every  good  deed  of  your  life  be  a  bright  jewel 
in  your  crown.  This  is  the  wish  of  your  laity  to  our  well-bclovcd 
and  illustrious  bishop." 

In  1908  P.ishop  Gallagher  dedicated  the  now  concrete  Imild- 
ing  at  the  Seminary. 

In  191 1  Bishop  Gallagher  placed  the  dioce.san  Seminary 
under  the  direction  of  his  own  priests.  Before  his  death  he  saw 
more  than  one-half  of  the  clergy  of  the  diocese,  alumni  of  his 
own  foundation.  His  interest  in  higher  education  and  the  reali- 
zation that  many  Catholic  young  men  anfl  women  had  no  alterna- 
tive but  to  attend  the  State  University  caused  him  to  bring  the 
Paulist  Fathers  to  care  for  the  young  men,  and  later  to  estab- 
lish under  the  wise  direction  of  the  Dominican  Sisters  Newman 
Hall  for  the  young  women. 

In  1914  he  made  his  ad  limina  visit  to  Rome  and  upon  his 
return  the  greatest  public  demonstration  and  testimonial  of  love 


Il6  IIISTORV  OF  THE 

and  affection   for  any   man   that    ( ialvcslon   had  ever   seen   was 
staged  by  the  Catholic  laity. 

The  great  world  war  had  broken  out  while  he  was  in  Europe, 
and  when  the  United  States  entered  the  conflict  Bishop  Gal- 
lagher displayed  his  fine  loyalty  to  country.  He  offered  the 
services  of  Father  Chataignon  as  chaplain  to  the  Texas  National 
Guard.  He  visited  the  camps  and  cantonments.  He  celebrated 
Pontifical  Mass  at  Camp  IMacArthur,  Waco,  on  November  25, 
191 7.  before  the  largest  assembly  of  soldiers  ever  gathered  to- 
gether in  Texas.  He  visited  Houston  to  dedicate  the  Knight.s 
of  Columbus  building  at  Camp  Logan  and  to  administer  con- 
firmation. Upon  his  return  to  Galveston  he  reluctantly  took  to 
his  bed,  and  on  January  21,  1918,  he  passed  to  his  eternal  reward. 
His  body  was  interred  January  24,  1918.  at  the  foot  of  the 
Blessed  Mother's  altar  in  the  St.  Marys  Cathedral  in  the  tomb 
which  he  had  prepared  himself.  Galveston  voiced  its  tribute  of 
regret  by  closing  every  business  house  the  morning  of  his  funeral. 
The  following  excerpt  from  a  sermon  delivered  in  his  own 
Temple  by  Rabbi  Cohen  shows  "a  good  testimony  of  them  who 
are  without."     (i  Tim.,  iii,  7.) 

"Judging  by  the  life  and  work  of  Bishop  Gallagher,  Galves- 
ton has  lost  an  incalculable  power  for  good.  Participating  in 
every  civic  activity,  bending  the  influence  of  his  exalted  posi- 
tion in  furtherance  of  that  which  was  right  and  just  in  our 
everyday  existence,  the  bishop  will  long  be  remembered  as  an 
exemplification  of  probity  of  the  highest  type.  A  simple,  modest, 
kindly  gentleman,  a  scholar,  teacher  and  moral  enthusiast,  it  was 
a  privilege  to  share  his  human  interest  in  all  things.  Notwith- 
standing his  quiet  carriage,  he  would  rise  to  righteous  wrath 
at  an  injustice,  and  would  score  sham  and  hypocrisy  in  no  un- 
certain terms.  He  was  particularly  severe  upon  those  who,  born 
and  reared  of  the  faith  in  which  he  was  so  shining  a  light,  tacitly 
repudiated  tlieir  birthright  by  making  overtures  for  social  pre- 
ferment to  an  alien  faith.  Talking  to  me  of  this  defection  he 
once  averred  that  the  people  who  sacrifice  their  spiritual  belief 
on  the  altar  of  worldly  fashion  and  who  make  light  of  their 
heritage  for  mundane  things  bring  nothing  to  themselves  but 
ridicule,  for  thev  are  thoroughly  understood  by  the  very  people 
whose  good  will  they  seek  even  at  the  loss  of  their  self-respect. 

"We  Jews  owe  Bishop  Gallagher's  memory  a  debt  of  grati- 
tude. I  recall  that,  in  the  interests  of  truth  and  justice,  he  was 
one  of  the  first  of  this  city  in  each  instance  to  sign  a  protest  to 
the  French  government  upon  the  unfortunate  Dreyfus  affair;  to 
the  Russian  government  on  the  Kishineff  massacre,  and  again  to 
the  Russian  government  on  the  preposterous  Beiliss  blood  accu- 
sation ;  and   he  voluntarilv   subscribed   to  whatever   funds   were 


\ 


DIOCESE   OF   GALVESTOX  II7 

collected  for  the  relief  of  the  victims  of  Russian  persecution  as 
well  as  to  the  Jewish  war  sufferers'  fund.  Xo  narrow,  partisan 
spirit  could  have  done  this ! 

"A  splendid  example  of  consideration  of  other  men's  religious 
convictions  and  an  ardent  upholder  and  supporter  of  his  own, 
Galvestonians  can  ill  afford  to  lose  so  eminent  a  citizen.  The 
Jewish  people  offer  their  sympathy  to  their  Catholic  brethren 
in  their  hour  of  trial.  Bishop  Gallagher  numbered  well  his  days 
and  applied  his  heart  to  wisdom." 

All  the  bishops  of  the  province  were  present  at  his  funeral 
and  assisted  in  the  ceremonies,  with  Rt.  Rev.  Theophile  Meer- 
schaert,  senior  suffragan  bishop  of  the  province  and  bishop  of 
the  diocese  of  Oklahoma,  as  celebrant.  The  other  bishops  of 
the  province  and  priests  who  attended  them  as  chaplains  were : 
Bishop  John  W.  Shaw  of  San  Antonio,  attended  by  Rev.  W.  W. 
Hume  and  Rev.  J.  Sheehan ;  Bishop  Allen  of  Mobile,  attended 
by  \'ery  Rev.  Father  Hackett  and  Rev.  M.  M.  Crowe;  Bishop 
John  B.  Morris  of  Little  Rock,  attended  by  Rev.  P.  A.  Heckman 
and  Rev.  Father  W'ernke;  Bishop  P.  J.  Nussbaum  of  Corpus 
Christi,  attended  by  Very  Rev.  J.  Scheidt  and  Rev.  S.  Spinne- 
weber ;  Bishop  \'an  de  Ven  of  Alexandria,  attended  by  Rev. 
William  Lee  and  Rev.  ^L  Heintzelmann ;  Bishop  J.  P.  Lynch  of 
Dallas,  attended  by  Very  Rev.  Robert  Nolan  and  Rev.  Father 
Gleissner,  and  Bishop  John  Gunn  of  Natchez.  Miss.,  attended 
by  Rev.  J.  Schnetzer  and  Rev.  Father  Moran. 

Very  Rev.  J.  B.  Jeanmard,  administrator  of  New  Orleans, 
and  Rt.  Rev.  John  J.  Hennessey  of  Wichita,  Kansas,  and  Very 
Rev.  M.  M.  Meara  of  St.  Joseph's  Cathedral,  Columbus,  Ohio, 
Bishop  Gallagher's  former  diocese,  also  were  in  attendance. 
Right  Rev.  Bishop  Hennessey  was  attended  by  Chaplains  \'cry 
Rev.   Fallier  Dupreitere  and  Rev.   h'ather  Kracmcr. 

The  deacons  of  honor  of  the  mass  were  Rev.  E.  A.  I-'iclds, 
S.  J.,  of  St.  Mary's  University,  and  Rev.  Father  P.  M.  Lcnnartz 
of  St.  Joseph's  Church  ;  deacon  of  the  mass  was  Rev.  John  S. 
Murphy  of  St.  Patrick's  Church  and  subfleacon  Rev.  j-'athcr 
Pelnar  of  West,  Texas.  Acolytes  were  Rev.  I'athcr  Walsh  of 
the  Church  of  the  Annunciation  of  Houston  and  Rev.  Father 
Kelley  of  Waco;  book  bearer.  Rev.  Father  Duda  of  the  Church 
of  the  Annunciation  of  Houston  ;  candle  bearer.  Rev.  I.  Valenta 
of  Rosen])urg,  and  thurifer.  Rev.  Father  Syzmanski. 

In  his  sermon  of  glowing  tribute  to  the  departed  bishop.  Rl 
Rev.  Bishop  Lynch  said  in  part : 

"When  Bishop  Gallagher  came  to  Texas  he  found  his  juris- 
diction extended  over  an  area  of  150,000  square  miles,  with 
a  Catholic  population  of  less  than   30.000.  about   fifty  churches 


Il8  HISTORY  OF  THE 

and  a  less  number  of  priests.  Today  within  this  district  there 
are  two  sees,  Galveston  and  Dallas,  with  236  churches,  208  priests 
and  a  Catholic  population  of  upwards  of  120,000.  When  he  came 
there  was  but  one  hospital  in  the  district;  today  there  are  fifteen, 
and  the  same  material  progress  has  emphasized  every  activity 
in  which  he  has  been  interested.  The  spiritual  development  is 
best  told  by  the  virtuous  life  of  his  faithful  children  as  the> 
obey  the  laws  of  God  and  man.  as  they  are  ever  dutiful  to  church 
and  state.  God  and  his  angels  alone  know  the  full  measure  of 
his  spiritual  success.  It  will  be  revealed  to  the  world  on  the  day 
of  judgment. 

"More  than  this  need  not  be  said  to  emphasize  the  greatness 
of  the  soul,  the  faith,  the  zeal  and  tlic  rli.irity  of  our  departed 
illustrious  father  in  Christ. 

"We  sympathize  with  his  devoted,  consecrated  clergy,  his 
faithful  daughters  of  the  religious  orders  and  his  loyal  people, 
in  the  loss  which  they  have  sustained  in  his  death.  We  beg  God 
to  strengthen  each  and  every  one  of  them  and  to  bless  and  con- 
sole his  ever-loyal  friend  and  steadfast  son  in  Christ,  the  Very 
Reverend  Administrator  of  the  diocese.  And  now,  dear  friend, 
we  bid  farewell.  Nicholas  Aloysius,  may  your  gentle  soul  find 
everlasting  peace  with  the  God  vnn  loved  and  served  so  well,  for 
you  have  been,  in  every  true  sense  of  the  term,  a  most  devout 
Christian,  a  model  priest,  a  zealous  bishop  and  a  loyal  citizen 
of  our  beloved  country." 


I 


BISHOP  C.  b.  HVkNb 

Fourtli   Bishop  of  Galveiton 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


BISHOP  CHRISTOPHER  EDWARD  BYRNE,  D.  D. 

Fourth  Bishop  of  Galveston. 

The  Rt.  Rev.  Christopher  Edward  Byrne,  D.  D.,  fourth  Bishop 
of  Galveston,  was  born  in  ^Missouri  in  1867.  His  college  studies 
were  made  at  St.  Mary's,  Kansas,  under  the  direction  of  the 
Jesuits.  His  seminary  training  was  received  at  St.  Mary's  Semi- 
nary, Baltimore,  Maryland,  from  the  Sulpician  Fathers,  a  con- 
gregation which  sent  some  of  its  priests  as  missionaries  into 
Texas  in  the  early  days.  Father  Anastase,  who  was  with  La 
Salle  at  his  death,  was  a  Sulpician. 

Bishop  Byrne  was  ordained  to  the  priesthood  in  St.  John's 
Church  by  the  Most  Rev.  Peter  R.  Kenrick,  being  one  of  the 
last  group  ever  ordained  by  that  illustrious  prelate.  He  served 
as  assistant  with  Monsignor  Walsh  at  St.  Bridget's,  St.  Louis, 
and  after  six  years  was  appointed  pastor  at  Columbia,  Mo.  On 
invitation  of  Archbishop  Kain,  who  obtained  a  dispensation  from 
Rome  in  the  requirement  of  length  of  ordination,  he  entered  the 
examination  for  the  irremovable  rectorate  of  Edina,  Mo.,  and 
received  the  appointment.  During  his  eleven  years  there  he 
built  a  commodious  school  and  increased  the  attendance  of  chi!- 
dred  from  eighty-seven  to  over  two  hundred.  A  beautiful  con- 
vent was  also  built  for  the  Sisters  of  Loretto  who  teach  the 
school.  His  next  work  was  in  St.  Louis  at  the  Holy  Name 
Church.  Here  the  whole  interior  of  the  school  was  reconstructed, 
and  the  attendance  increased  from  a  little  less  than  three  hun- 
dred to  over  five  hundred.  A  new  church  and  priests'  house 
was  built  and  a  home  purchased  for  the  Sisters  of  St.  Joseph 
who  teach  the  school.  At  the  end  of  seven  years,  when  he  was 
called  to  be  liishop  of  Galveston,  a  debt  of  between  $40,000  and 
$50,000  remained  against  this  work. 

While  in  St.  Louis  he  was  largely  instrunuiital  in  foiininj; 
the  Diocesan  I'nion  of  the  H(jly  Name  Societies;  served  on  the 
commission  for  the  betterment  of  the  stage  and  picture  shows; 
was  a  member  of  the  Archbishop's  Consultors.  and  for  a  while 
editor  and  manager  of  the  "Church  Progress." 

He  was  consecrated  Bishop  of  Galveston  in  the  Cathedral 
of  St.  Louis  on  November  10.  i(>i8.  and  arrived  in  Galveston 
on  Thanksgiving  Day.  Possessing  much  of  the  prudence,  gentle- 
ness and  unselfish  zeal  of  his  predecessor  in  the  See.  the  clergy 


120  HISTORY  OF  THE 

and  laity  feel  grateful  to  God  and  the  Holy  See  for  his  selec- 
tion.    His  program  was  partly  voiced  in  the  following  appeal: 

"The  Church  must  have  native  men  and  women  to  do  her 
work,  or  she  will  be  hopelessly  outdistanced.  Inevitably  she  will 
lose  her  hold  upon  her  people.  We  can  only  save  the  ruins  that 
remain  by  immediately  supplying  this  crying  need  of  Texan 
priests.  The  people  who  will  not  make  the  sacrifice  necessary 
to  fill  our  sanctuaries  and  our  convents  have  only  a  diluted 
Catholicism.  Their  faith  can  never  weather  the  storms  and 
tempests  of  life.  By  their  fruits  ye  shall  know  them,  and  this 
lack  of  fruit  in  the  sphere  of  vocations  is  a  certain  sign  of  de- 
cayed faith. 

If  the  Catholic  Church  is  to  keep  her  children  in  Texas;  if 
she  is  to  advance  beyond  her  present  weakness,  then  she  must 
have  native  Texans  to  perform  her  work.  Our  own  young  men 
must  lift  the  sacred  Body  of  Christ  at  the  Holy  Sacrifice  of 
the  Mass.  Our  young  men  must  pour  the  saving  balm  of  Christ's 
Blood  over  the  penitents  in  the  confessional ;  must  carry  Christ 
upon  their  breasts  to  the  sick  and  dying.  Our  own  young  women 
must  take  their  places  in  the  ranks  of  St.  Dominic,  St.  Ursula, 
the  Incarnate  Word,  and  all  other  great  communities  of  the 
Church.  They  must  teach  our  youth;  they  must  nurse  our  sick; 
they  must  care  for  our  orphans  and  afflicted. 

Coming  into  the  Diocese  of  Galveston  from  elsewhere  this 
need  of  vocations  among  the  native  Texans  is  the  fact  which 
strikes  me  as  the  most  urgent  about  the  religious  situation.  If 
that  is  remedied  I  am  sure  that  other  needs  will  take  care  of 
themselves.  If  that  is  not  met,  then  religion  can  not  possibly 
advance.  Native  priests  and  sisters  will  find  means  to  build  the 
necessary  schools  and  churches  and  other  institutions. 

Therefore,  I  have  set  myself,  after  prayer  and  study,  to  the 
task  of  developing  vocations  among  the  youth  of  my  diocese.  By 
Gods'  grace  I  hope  to  succeed.  When  I  come  to  yield  up  the 
government  of  this  diocese  to  another  bishop  I  trust  that  native 
Texans  will  be  occupying  the  pulpits,  will  be  teaching  in  the 
schools,  will  be  nursing  our  sick.  As  my  body  is  laid  to  rest  in 
the  Cathedral  of  Galveston  beside  that  of  my  sainted  predecessor, 
I  desire — with  ardent  desire — that  the  clergy  and  sisters  as- 
sembled for  the  funeral  mass  may  be  largely  native  Texans  whom 
I  myself  have  led  on  to  the  consecration  in  God's  service.  And 
in  saying  this  I  take  not  away  one  bit  of  praise  from  those  labor- 
ing here  so  earnestly  today. 

"If  I  do  not  accomplish  this  object  of  developing  vocations, 
then,  no  matter  what  other  successes  may  be  attributed  to  my 
administration,  I  shall  count  myself  to  have  failed,  for  I  am 
thoroughly  convinced  that  this  is  the  only  solid  foundation  on 


DIOCESE   OF    GALVESTOX  121 

which  Gods'  Kingdom  can  be  built.  The  Church  may  seem  for 
a  time  to  flourish,  but  if  Catholicism  has  not  taken  that  deep 
hold  on  a  people  which  will  make  them  dedicate  their  youth  to 
God's  service,  it  can  not  endure.  By  their  fruits  ye  shall  know 
them.  If  Catholicism  does  not  bring  forth  this  fruit  of  vocations 
then  Catholicism  is  dead." 

His  words  were  followed  by  action,  and  thanks  to  his  zealous 
interest  the  diocese  saw  the  erection,  at  the  cost  of  nearly 
$200,000,  of  a  fine  new  building  at  the  Seminary,  the  installa- 
tion of  a  modern  plant  for  sieam  heating  and  the  construction 
of  a  cement  water  tower  for  fire  protection. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


HISTORICAL  TABLEAUX. 

A  series  of  historic  tableaux  was  presented  during  the  Diamond 
Jubilee.  The  work  was  supervised  by  Rev.  Marius  S.  Chataig- 
non  and  in  their  presentation  he  was  ably  assisted  by  Adoph  D. 
Dolson,  Eugene  Coughlin  and  Charles  K.  Lulor. 

Tableau  I. 
^'QUIVIRA  WAS  ALWAYS  JUST  BEYOND."     154L 

Personnel : 

Coronado. 

Father  Juan  de  Padilla,  Proto-Martyr  of  U.  S. 

Father  Juan  de  la  Cruz. 

Indians. 

"Oh,  gay  they  rode  with  plume  on  crest,  and  gilded  spur  at  heel, 
\\'ith  gonfalon  of  Aragon  and  Banner  of  Castile, 
With    high   emprise   and   joyous   youth,   twin   marshals   of   the 

throng, 
And  woke  Texas'  silent  hills  with  trumpet  note  and  song." 

Francisco  Vasquez  Coronado  started  from  Compostella  on  the 
Pacific  Coast,  west  of  Mexico  City,  February,  1540.  Arrived  at 
Culiacan,  half  way  up  the  w^estern  coast  of  the  Gulf  of  California, 
March  2^,  1540.  Started  northward  for  the  "Seven  Cities  of 
Cibola,"  of  whose  fame  they  had  heard  from  the  Franciscan 
Friar,  Marcos  of  Niza,  who  had  viewed  them  from  a  distant 
hilltop  two  years  previously.  Part  of  the  expedition  reached  the 
Grand  Canon.  They  all  wintered  near  the  present  site  of  Albu- 
querque. There  from  an  Indian,  Coronado  head  of  Quivira,  rich 
and  populous  place  far  away  in  the  east.  Started  on  April  23rd. 
1 541.  Probably  crossed  the  branches  of  the  Colorado  River  of 
Texas  and  reached  the  head  waters  of  the  Nueces.  He  turned 
north  and  not  far  from  the  Great  Bend  of  the  Arkansas  River 
found  the  village  of  Wichita  Indian  Tepees.  When  Coronado 
returned  he  left  behind  him  among  the  Indians  Padre  Francisco 
Juan  de  Padilla,  who  was  martyred  by  the  Wichita  Indians,  and 
Padre  Juan  de  la  Cruz,  who  was  also  slain  near  Cibola. 

The  Journal  of  Coronado,  George  Parks  Winship ;  A.  S. 
Barnes  &  Company,  New  York. 


DIOCESE   OF   GALVESTON  1 23 

Tableau  II. 
DEATH  OF  LA  SALLE,  1687  A.  D. 

Personnel : 

Father  Zenobius, 
Father  Anastase, 
La  Salle, 
Larcheveque. 

Seigneur  Robert  de  la  Salle  followed  the  Mississippi  to  its 
mouth  in  1682,  returned  to  France  and  obtained  permission  from 
Louis  XIV  to  establish  a  colony.  His  boats  were  blown  out  of 
their  course  by  a  storm  and  he  landed  at  Matagorda  I^ay  Febru- 
ary 20th,  1685.  He  established  Fort  St.  Louis  and  started  out  in 
search  of  the  Mississippi. 

La  Salle  was  murdered  near  the  present  site  of  Navasota 
by  Duhaut,  one  of  his  companions. 

The  story  is  told  in  Joutel's  Journal  as  it  was  gleaned  from 
the  lips  of  Father  Anastase,  a  Sulpician,  La  Salle's  companion 
on  the  trip. 

Joutel's  Journal. 

Tableau  III. 

FOUNDING  OF  SAN  FRANCISCO  DE  LOS  TEJAS. 
1690  A.  D. 

Scene — Benediction    in    the   Open    Air. 

Personnel : 

De  Leon, 

I'^ather  Massanet. 

Three  other  Franciscans, 

Soldiers, 

Indians, 

Processional  Cross,  etc. 

This  Mission  was  located  somewhere  near  the  present  site  of 
Crockett. 

Here  is  Father  Massenet's  own  account: 

"On  the  eve  of  Corpus  Christi,  Mass  was  sung.  P.eforc  the 
Mass  we  had  a  procession  with  the  P>lcsscd  Sacrament  cxi>oscd. 
A  large  number  of  Indians  were  assembled.  The  soldiers  had 
been  given  leave  to  fire  as  many  salutes  as  they  could  during  the 
procession,  at  the  elevation  and  at  the  close  of  Mass.    After  Mass 


124  HISTORY  OF  THE 

we  hoisted  tlie  royal  standard.  On  the  morning-  of  the  first  of 
June,  a  week  from  the  feast  of  Corpus  Christi,  we  consecrated 
the  church.  The  church  and  village  was  dedicated  to  our  Holy 
Father  St.  Francis. 

Bolton's  "Spanish  Exploration  in  the  South  West." 

Tableau  IV. 
''BRAZOS  DE  BIOS."    1716  A.  D. 

\'enerable  Antonio  Margil  died  in  Mexico  City  August  6, 
1726. 

His  virtues  were  declared  heroic  by  Pope  Gregory  XVI 
in  1836. 

Personnel : 

Venerable  Antonio  Margil. 

The  Venerable  Antonio  Margil  founded  the  Apostolic  Col- 
lege of  Our  Lady  of  Guadalupe  at  Zacatecas.  With  the  assist- 
ance of  six  religious  from  the  college  of  the  Holy  Cross  at  Quere- 
taro,  Fathers  Francis  Hidalgo,  Gabriel  de  Vergara,  Benedict  San- 
chez, Manuel  Castallanos,  Peter  Perez  de  Mesquia  and  Father 
Isidor  Felis  de  Espinosa,  Superior  and  three  Fathers  from  Zaca- 
tecas, Mathias  Sanz  de  San  Antonio,  Peter  de  Mendoza  and 
Augustine  Patron,  Father  Margil  started  for  Texas,  April,  1716, 
but  was  delayed,  being  at  the  point  of  death  from  fever.  The 
others,  under  Padre  Espinosa,  reached  the  Texas  missions  June 
28th,  1 71 6. 

Father  Espinosa  selected  a  site  twenty  miles  distant  among 
the  friendly  Asinai,  where  he  established  the  first  "La  Purissima 
Concepcion,"  afterwards  removed  to  San  Antonio.  Padre  Margil 
though  left  in  a  dying  condition,  recovered  and  followed  the 
missionaries  to  East  Texas,  whence  he  wrote  July  20th,  17 16,  hav- 
ing founded  the  mission  of  Our  Lady  of  Guadalupe,  among  the 
Nacogdoches. 

The  river  which  we  know  as  the  Brazos  was  then  called 
Espiritu  Santo.  Because  Margil  was  miraculously  transported 
across  it  on  his  way  to  Nacogdoches,  the  name  was  changed  to 
"Brazos  de  Dios,  ("The  Arms  of  God)."  The  first  portion  of  the 
Spanish  entitlement  clings  to  the  river.  The  missionary  labors  of 
Padre  Margil  embraced  Nacogdoches,  Spanish  Lake,  Louisiana, 
and  San  Jose  at  San  Antonio. 

Shea,  "The  Catholic  Church  in  the  Colonies,"  Chapter  H; 
The  Church  in  Texas.    John  G.  Shea,  New  York,  1886. 


diocese  of  galveston  125 

Tableau  W 

SAN  ANTONIO  DE  VALERO.     1718  A.  D. 
THE  ALAMO.     1722  A.  D. 

"Thermopylae  had  its  messenger  of  defeat. 
The  Alamo  had  none." 

Father  Anthony  de  San  iJuenaventnra  Olivarez  transferred 
his  Xarane  Indian  Mission  of  San  Francisco  Solano  on  the  banks 
of  the  Rio  Grande  to  San  Antonio  on  the  ist  of  May,  1718,  by 
order  of  the  Marquis  of  V'alero,  then  Viceroy.  In  1722  it  was 
removed  with  the  Post  to  Military  Plaza.  The  Alamo  Church 
is  all  that  now  remains  of  the  once  extensive  Mission.  "San  An- 
tonio de  \'alero." 

Personnel : 

Fray  Antonio  de  San  Puienaventura  y  Olivarez. 
]'"ray  Mij^uel  Nunez. 
Baptism  of  first  child  at  the  Mission. 
Sponsors,  etc. 

It  was  in  this  church  that  its  heroic  defenders,  March  6.  1836, 
made  their  desperate  stand  for  the  liberty  of  Texas. 


Tafu.f.M'  \'T. 

"LA    PURISSIMA    CONCEPCION." 

First  mission  of  the  name  founded  Ny  1  ailier  i'^spinosa  annMij; 
the  Asinai  near  .Vacogdoches  in  1716.  Present  mission  near 
!^an  .Antonio,  conuTslone  laid   1731. 

Persoimcl : 

Father  Gabriel  de  X'erRara. 

Two  other  I'ranciscans, 

Indians, 

Mortar  I'.ox,  etc. 

There  is  a  pious  tradition  anion};  the  old  Iiulians  that  when 
its  founrlations  were  laid,  (the  Padres,  lo  carry  the  idea  of  the 
Immaculate  Conception  of  the  ]'>lessed  X'irpin,  for  which  do^nia 
the  Franciscans  were  always  protagonists,  before  its  declaration 
(18541  and  for  whom  Murillo  painted  the  famous  Louvre  picture 
(1678I).  the  Padres  asked  their  Indian  neophytes  to  bring  milk 
sufficient  to  mix  the  mortar. 


126  history  of  the 

Tableau  \'TI. 
SAN  JACINTO  BATTLEFIELD. 

l^ersonnel : 

Gen.  Sam  Houston, 
Gen.  Sydney  Sherman, 
Surgeon  N.  D.  Labadie, 
Soldiers,  etc. 

On  San  Jacinto's  grlorious  field  the  language  and  perhaps 
the  civilization  of  a  continent  was  changed. 

General  Sydney  Sherman,  a  member  of  the  Cathedral  parish, 
commanded  the  left  wing  of  the  Texan  army. 

Dr.  Labadie,  who  was  the  trusted  friend  and  adviser  of  Father 
Timon  and  Bishop  Odin  and  financial  agent  of  the  first  frame 
Catholic  Church  constructed  on  the  present  site  of  the  Cathedral, 
acted  as  interpreter  for  the  surrender  of  Santa  Anna. 

Tableau  VITT. 

Father  Timon,  C.  M.,  coming  to  address  the  Congress  of  the 

Republic   of  Texas,   Houston,  January,    1839. 

Present  site  of  Rice  Hotel. 

Personnel : 

Father  Timon,  C.  M. 

Father  Llebaria,  C.  M. 

General  Sam  Houston, 

Mirabeau  B.  Lamar,  President  of  the  Republic  of  Texas, 

David  Burnet,  Vice-President. 

Father  Timon,  C.  M.,  afterwards  consecrated  Bishop  of  Buf- 
falo, N.  Y.,  October  17,  1847,  came  to  Texas  in  December,  1838, 
at  the  request  of  the  Congregation  of  the  Propaganda.  He  was 
born  at  Conewago,  Pa.  He  was  accompanied  to  Texas  by  Father 
Llebaria,  C.  M.  They  landed  at  Galveston,  December  26,  1838, 
and  after  spending  i'w^  days  there,  went  to  Houston,  where  the 
Congress  of  the  Republic  was  in  session  in  the  old  Capitol,  on  the 
present  site  of  the  Rice  Hotel. 

In  his  own  words:  "We  arrived  in  Houston  January  3,  1839, 
and  on  the  Octave  of  St.  John  the  Evangelist  we  said  Holy  Mass 
On  the  following  Sunday  we  were  invited  to  preach  at  the  Capitol 
in  the  hall  of  deliberations,  in  the  presence  of  the  assembly  of  the 
representatives  of  the  Republic." 

Bishop  Timon's  Letter,  January  9,  1839. 


DIOCESE   OF    GALVESTON  12/ 

Tableau  IX. 
BISHOP  ODIN. 

Bishop  Jean  Marie  Odin,  C.  M. 

Born  at  Hauteville,  France,  February  25,  1800. 

Ordained  priest,  May  4,  1823. 

Prefect-Apostolic  of  Texas,  May,  1840. 

Named  Vicar- Apostolic  of  Texas,  July  31st,  1841. 

Consecrated  with  title  of  Bishop  of  Claudiopolis. 

^larch  6.  1842. 
Diocese  of  Galveston  erected  1847. 

Personnel : 

Bishop  Odin, 

Workmen,   etc. 
Building-  the  first  church  in  Galveston,  February  6,  1842. 
Vie  dc  Mgr.  J  can-Marie  Odin.  Paris,  1896. 

TAnr.EAu  X. 
BATTLE   OF  GALVESTON,  JANUARY    1.   1863. 

Lieut.  .Sydney  Sherman  being  carried  into  the  L'rsuline  Con- 
vent. 

Lieut.  Sydney  Sherman,  son  of  (General  Sydney  Sherman  of 
San  Jacinto  fame,  died  in  the  military  hospital  of  the  Crsuliiie 
Convent.  The  L'rsuline  Nuns  had  turned  over  their  new  convent 
building  to  Cieneral  Ma_gruder  to  ser\c  as  a  hospital,  and  when 
wounded,  Lieut.  Sherman  was  carried  tlicrc. 

"Under  Six  flags.'' 

The  Galveston  News  paid  this  editorial  tribute  to  ynung  Slur- 
man,  in  its  issue  of  Januarv  9th.  1863,  publislu-d  in  Iloiiston. 

LIEUT.  SIDNEY  A.   Slll-.KMAX. 

The  Morning  Star  had  risen  on  the  field  of  strife,  shedding 
its  beams  of  victory  upon  the  champions  of  the  "I^one  Star."  who 
had  riven  the  chains  of  thrablum  that  held  subordinate  the  "Gem 
of  the  Ocean,"  crushing  beneath  the  iron  heel  of  right  the  vassals 
of  despotism,  anrl  adding  fresh  laurels  to  the  brow  of  Liberty. 
Pre-eminent  among  the  warriors  gathered  there,  was  a  nol)le  form 
of  chivalrous  bearing,  a  scion  of  one  of  the  achievers  of  Texan 
independence,  with  a  flush  of  triumph  on  his  brow — and  a  sparkle 
of  Texas  spirit  in  that  bright  dark  eye — with  the  proud,  undaunt- 
ed step  of  a  Southern  brave,  he  took  his  place  amonp  the  fore- 


128  HISTORY  OF  THE 

most  of  that  gallant  band,  to  hurl  vengeance  upon  a  foe  that  had 
cast  the  shades  of  desolation  o'er  his  island  home ;  hallowed 
memories  of  by-gone  days  stirred  within  him  a  mighty  strength, 
and,  with  his  mother's  image  as  a  beacon  light  to  glory,  he  went 
forth  to  meet  his  country's  foes.  At  his  post  he  fell,  surrendered 
only  to  the  common  enemy  of  man,  his  spirit  rose  unconquered, 
borne  aloft  by  the  shouts  of  victory,  while  the  angel  of  Freedom 
wiped  the  death  damp  from  his  brow.  He  rests  with  the  sun- 
shine of  Fame  o'er  his  slumbers,  and  a  halo  of  glory  encircling 
his  memory — upon  his  native  shore ;  he  fell  a  willing  sacrifice, 
and  the  breezes  that  float  in  freedom  o'er  a  freemans  grave  will 
chant  his  requiem.    He  sleeps  well,  and 

"Oh  how  blest  are  those  who  sink  to  rest 
And  close  their  eyes  on  victory's  breast." 


Tableau  XI. 
BATTLE  OF  SABINE  PASS,  1863. 

Lieut.  Dick  Dowling,  in  command  at  Fort  Griffin.  His  com- 
pany consisted  of  forty-two  Irishmen. 

Jefferson  Davis  in  "The  Rise  and  Fall  of  the  Confederate 
Governinent,'''  says  of  this  engagement:  "The  success  of  the 
single  company  which  garrisoned  the  earthwork  at  Fort  Griffin 
is  without  parallel  in  ancient  or  modern  war." 

^^ Under  Six  Flags." 

Tableau  XII. 
BISHOP  CLAUDE  MARIE  DUBUIS. 

Born  at  Teche  in  the  parish  of  Coutouvre,  France,  March  8th, 
1817.  Ordained  priest  at  Lyons,  June  ist,  1844.  Appointed 
Bishop  of  Galveston  October  ist,  1862.  Consecrated  Bishop  of 
Galveston  at  Lyons  November  23rd,  1862. 

Father  Dubuis  left  Havre  March  20th,  1846,  in  company  with 
Messieurs  Domenech,  Lacour,  Chambodut,  Charion,  Chazelle, 
Fadey,  deacons  or  clerks  of  the  diocese  of  Lyons,  and  certain 
other  ecclesiastics  of  Spain,  Ireland  and  Italy,  who  had  been  re- 
cruited by  Bishop  Odin.  On  arrival  at  New  Orleans  he  went  to 
the  Lazarist  Seminary  at  the  Barrens  to  learn  English.  He  left 
New  Orleans  for  Texas  on  the  last  day  of  the  year  1849.  He 
labored  at  Castroville  and  San  Antonio.     Was  appointed  Vicar- 


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DIOCESE   OF   GALVESTON  1 29 

General  by  Bishop  Odin  and  upon  the  transfer  of  Bishop  Odin 
to  the  Archbishopric  of  New  Orleans,  was  appointed  Bishop  of 
Galveston  and  consecrated  November  23rd,  1862. 

Vie  de  Monsigneur  Dnbiiis,  L'Apotre  dit  Texas.  Roa)im 
1900. 

Scene — Welcoming  the  "Sisters  of  Charity  of  the 
Incarnate  Word." 

On  September  22-  1866,  three  "Sisters  of  Charity  of  the  In- 
carnate Word"  received  from  Bishop  Dubuis  in  Lyons,  France, 
the  habit  of  their  new  Order  and  started  for  Texas  to  become  the 
first  hospital  Sisters  and  developed  the  great  communities  of 
Galveston  and  San  Antonio  with  their  many  hospitals,  which 
preach  the  gospel  of  ministry  and  service. 

"Unshrinking   where   pestilence    scatters    his   breath 
Like  an  angel  she  moves  'mid  the  vapors  of  death." 

Tableau  XIII. 

BISHOP   GALLAGHER. 

Born  Temperance ville,  Ohio,  I'Y'bruary  ly,  1846. 
Ordained  December  25,   1868. 
Consecrated   Bishop  of  Galveston   April   30.    1882. 
Died  January  21,  1918. 

A.  Welcoming  the  Dominican  Sisters. 

B.  Greeting  his  foundation  of  religious  men  and  women. 

C.  The  Accomplishment  of  his  Dream — The  Seminary. 

A.  The  Dominican  Sisters  came  from  Somerset,  Ohio,  ami 
reached  Galveston  September  29,   1882. 

Under  the  direction  of  Mother  Agnes.  Mother  Rose  and  the 
late  lamented  Mother  Pauline,  they  have  had  remarkable  success 
in  convent  and  parochial  school  work. 

B.  The  Jesuits.  Josephites.  the  I'.asilians.  the  Dominicans, 
the  Paulists,  the  Oblates,  religious  orders  of  men,  and  the  Si.sters 
of  the  Holy  Cross.  Divine  Providence.  Daughters  of  Charity  of 
St.  V'incent  de  Paul.  Holy  Family  and  Good  Shepherd  have 
established  their  uplifting  work  in  many  institutions. 

C.  Bishop  Gallagher  always  wished  to  conform  to  the  Can- 
onical requirement:  "Every  diocese  should  have  its  own  .Scnun- 
ary  in  a  convenient  place  selected  by  the  I'ishop."  In  u>oi  he 
purchased  the  old  Sylvan  Beach  Hotel  at  La  Porte.  In  u/>8  he 
dedicated  the  first  concrete  building  and  in  1921  Bishop  Byrne 
added  many  improvements.  The  Gallagher  Memorial  BuiUHng 
will  accomplish  the  dream. 


130  HISTORY  OF   THE 

Tableau  XIV. 
THE  MORNING  AFTER  THE  STORM,  1900. 

When  the  storm  king  lashed  our  Island  Home,  the  Sisters 
of  Charity  of  the  Incarnate  Word,  located  at  the  Orphan  Asylum 
down  the  heach,  realizing  that  death  was  imminent,  tied  their 
helpless  charges  to  them  and  perished  with  them. 

"These  through  the  darkness  of  death,  the  dominion  of  night, 
Swept,  and  they  woke  in  white  places  at  morning  tide." 


Tableau  XV. 

THE  CATHEDRAL. 

Cornerstone  laid  March  14,  1847. 
Consecrated  November  26,  1848. 
Diamond  Jubilee  March  14,  1922. 


DIOCESE  OF  GALVESTON  I3I 

REFERENCES. 


*' Spanish  Exploration   in  the   Southwest." — Bolton. 
Charles  Scribner's  Sons  (1916). 

"Texas  in  the  Middle  Eighteenth  Century." — Bolton. 
University  of  California  Press  (1915). 

"With  the  Makers  of  Texas." — Bolton  and   Barker. 
Gammel-Statesman  Publishing  Co. 

"Under  Six  Flags." — Davis. 
Ginn  &  Company. 

"Texas,  a  Contest  of  Civilizations." — Garrison. 
Houghton   Mifflin   Co. 

"History  of  Texas." — W'ooten. 
Texas  History   Co. 

"Catholic  Church  in  Colonial  Days." — Shea. 

"Vie  de  Mgr.  Jean-Marie  Odin,  C.  M." 
D.  Dumoulin  et  Cie.     Paris. 

"Vie  de  Monseigneur  Dubuis." — Par  I'.Vbhe  J.  P. 
Librarie  Rebe  Souers,  Roanne. 

"History  of  the  Catholic  Church  in  the  Diocese  of  San  An- 
tonio.— Parisot  &  Smith. 

Carrico  &  Bowcn,  San  .\ntonio,  Texas. 

"The  Book  of  Texas." — Benedict  and  Lomax. 
Doublcday  Page  &  Co. 

"Texas  and  Texans." — Johnson  and   Barker. 
American   Historical  Society,  Chicago. 

"Reminiscences  of  a  Texas  Missionary." — Pari.sot. 
Johnson  Brothers,  San  Antonio. 

Catholic  Almanac. 

F.   Lucas,  Jr..   Baltimore. 

Catholic   Directory. 

"Brief  History  of  Lower  Rio  ( irandc  Valley."— I'Vank  Cush- 
man   Pierce. 

George  Banta  Pub.  Co. 

Letters  of  Father  Timon,  i'-ishop  (  )din  and  others.  From  the 
Chancery  of  New  Orleans,  r.alveston.  N'otre  Dame  and  the 
archives  of  the  Lazarists.  Compiled  and  loaned  by  Dr.  C.  L. 
Souvay,  C.  M. 


KNAPP   BROS 

PRINTERS 
GALVESTON.  Texas 


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